;•.  :,  fivfy*'^/-.'4^.lMto«>.■ 


^^&^^^^^^^m,.r3^:^ 


^  t\»«  Wif^Hraf  ^^, 


PRINCETON,    N.     J. 


:^1 


U-^* 


A   HISTORY 


The  First  Presbyterian  Church 


OF  DAYTON.  OfllO, 


From    184  5    to    188  0 


CLARKE  McDERMONT,  M.  D. 


INCLUDIN( 


A   SKETCH    OF    THE     EAFLY     HISTOKY     OF    THE    CHURCH     VROSi     A    POSTHUMOUS 
MANUPCRH'T    OV    THE    TATE 


HENRY  L.  BROWN,  ESQ 


FROM    I8CX>  TO    1845. 

^mfToF' 
PRIITCETQIT 
MAY  14:  1880 

1  8  811  . 


DR.  G.  McDERMONT: 

Dear  Sir — We  have  been  delegated  by  the  Session,  to  request 

you  to  write  a  History  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Dayton,  for 

publication. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

JOHN  H.  THOMAS, 

JOHN  F.  EDGAR. 

.July,  1879. 


PREFACE, 


Forty  years  ago,  by  request  of  session,  Dr.  Job  Haines  wrote  a  brief 
history  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dayton.  This  history  wa.s 
never  published,  but  was  carefully  copied  into  the  session  book  of  that 
period,  where  it  may  still  be  found  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  In 
this  sketch  Dr.  Haines  states  that  no  sessional  record  of  the  Church, 
prior  to  1818,  was  in  existence.  For  this  and  other  reasons,  his  account 
of  the  early  Presbyterian  settlement  at  Dayton,  and  the  organization  of 
the  First  Church,  is  somewhat  imperfect. 

A  few  years  ago  Mr.  Henry  L.  Brown  undertook  to  prepare  a  history 
of  the  Church,  but  died  before  his  task  was  completed.  His  luauuscript 
contains  the  Church's  history  from  itis  incipiency  to  the  close  of  Mr. 
Barnes'  ministry  in  1845.  His  account  of  the  early  organization  of  the 
First  Church  is  very  satisfactory.  The  information  he  tmnsmits  on 
this  point  was  obtained  chiefly  from  the  old  i-ecords  of  the  Washington 
Presbytery,  in  the  State  of  Kentucky,  to  whose  care  the  Dayton  Church 
committed  itself  in  its  infancy.  Mr.  Brown  visited  the  Washington 
Presbytery  in  order  to  make  a  thorough  examination  of  its  minutes  and 
correspondence.  By  this  means  he  discovered  that  the  First  Church 
held  ecclesiastical  relations  with  that  body  in  April,  1800.  From  this 
we  know  that  its  organization  must  have  preceded  that  date. 

From  1845  to  the  present  time,  the  records  of  all  official  proceedings 
of  the  First  Church  have  been  carefully  preserved,  which  makes  the 
continuation  of  the  history  a  much  easier  task  than  that  which   Mr. 


IV 


Brown  assumed.  This  consideration  in  connection  with  the  writer's 
personal  knowledge  of  the  general  affairs  of  the  Church  during  the  inter- 
vening period,  has  enabled  him  to  undertake  the  duty  assigned  with  less 
embarrassment  than  his  conscious  unfitness  for  this  kind  of  work  would 
have  permitted  under  other  cu'cumstances. 

Mr.  Brown's  manuscript  is  printed  in  this  volume  just  as  it  came 
from  his  liand,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  verbal  corrections,  and  its 
characteristic  style  and  language  will  doubtless  prove  an  interesting 
feature  of  the  book  to  the  numerous  friends  of  that  warm  hearted  and 
noble  Christian. 

In  1870  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  delivered  a  Historical  Discourse  on  the 
First  Church,  to  which  the  writer  is  indebted  for  a  large  part  of  the 
information  given  under  the  head  of  "Church  Statistics." 

C.  McDERMONT. 

Datton,  Ohio,  March,  1880. 


EARLY    HISTORY    OF 


HE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  DAYTON. 


BY  THE   LATE  HENRY  L.   BROWN,  ESQ. 


Daniel  C.  Cooper,  formerly  of  New  Jersey,  the  proprietor 
of  Dayton,  was  Presbyterian  in  his  church  preferences,  as 
were  also  others  of  the  earliest  inhabitants  of  Dayton  who 
came  from  the  same  State.  Several  of  the  first  emigrant 
families  from  Kentucky  were  New  Lights,  but  formerly 
Presbyterian,  and  a  few  of  the  original  settlers  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  who  sought  ministers  of 
their  own  denomination  to  preach  for  them  before  any 
church  was  organized.  The  Presbytery  of  Washington, 
in  the  synod  of  Kentucky,  was  organized  in  1799.  Its 
minutes  of  proceedings  and  rules  of  government  do  not 
contain  special  directions  or  forms  for  the  organization  of 
new  churches,  the  record  only  stating  with  reference  to 
applications  that  "-certain  members  of  a  new  church  living 
in  ...  .  desired  to  be  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery 
and  to  be  known  as  the  ^^  church  of  ...  .  ,"  and  such 
was  the  entry  made  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 


6  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Dayton,  on  April  14th,  1801,  "wAen  a  petition  was  presented 
to  the  Presbytery  requesting  that  occasional  supplies  might  he 
granted  to  the  church."  In  answer  to  this  petition  Rev.  James 
Kemper  was  appointed  to  preach  one  Sabbath. 

The  Presbytery  of  Washington  met  on  April  8th,  1800, 
and  in  the  minutes  of  that  meeting  we  lind  an  application 
from  the  congregation  of  Beulah,  etc.,  praying  to  be  con- 
sidered vacancies,  under  care  of  Presbj'tery,  and  that  sup- 
plies might  be  "granted  as  frequently  as  possible."  Now, 
we  understand  that  the  "etc.,"  vacancies,  and  supplies 
included  the  wants  of  the  Dayton  ■  Church,  as  needing 
supplies  as  frequently  as  possible,  and  from  this  we  are 
assured  that  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dayton 
existed  prior  to  the  spring  of  1801,  and  most  probably  as 
early  as  April,  1800. 

The  Beulah  Church,  in  common  with  a  New  Light  con- 
gregation, of  which  the  beloved  Nathan  Worley  was 
preacher,  and  perhaps  a  Baptist  society  occupied  for  wor- 
ship their  log  cabin  meeting -house,  which  stood  on  the 
grounds  of  the  Ewery  grave-yard,  near  Beavertown.  This 
log  building  afterwards  gave  place  to  a  stone  church, 
which  was  built  in  the  village  of  Beavertown,  and  is  yet 
standing,  although  not  used  for  church  purposes.  The 
Beulah  Church  was  supplied  by  Rev.  William  Robinson, 
who  lived  about  three  miles  east  of  Dayton  on  Mad  River, 
and  there  owned  and  operated  a  mill  through  the  week  to 
supply  his  own  bread  and  accommodate  the  neighborhood, 
and  then  preached  the  gospel  on  the  Sabbath  to  furnish 
spiritual  food  for  tke  Beulah,  Dayton,  and  other  people  as 


EARLY  HISTORY.  7 

opportunities  offered.  The  population  of  the  country  was 
so  sparse  at  that  early  day,  and  the  Beulah  and  Dayton 
Presbyterian  congregations  so  contiguous  as  to  be  really 
considered  one  society.  In  a  short  period  thereafter  the 
Church  of  Beulah  passed  out  of  record  and  the  Dayton 
Church  only  remained. 

Further  entries  in  the  Presbyterial  records,  with  refer- 
ence to  either  the  Beulah  or  Dayton  churches,  do  not 
reveal  anything  except  that  supplies  were  requested  and 
granted  for  appointments  of  ministers  to  preach  one  Sab- 
bath at  each  church. 

Although  the  Church  was  organized  and  met  for  worship 
as  ministers  would  occasionally  present  themselves,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1804  called  Rev.  James  Welsh  to  supply 
them  regularly  as  their  minister,  yet  a  session  was  not 
instituted  until  May,  1806.  The  trustees  and  congrega- 
tional records  were  opened  and  the  following  is  the  iirst 
minute,  viz. : 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  First  Presbyterian  congregation  of 
the  town  of  Dayton,  held  at  their  meeting-house,  on  the  23rd 
of* October,  1804,  John  Miller,  Robert  Edgar,  David  Keid, 
John  McCabe,  and  John  Ewing.were  elected  trustees." 

The  meeting-house  in  which  this  election  was  held  was 
a  small  log  building  standing  on  the  south  end  of  lot  num- 
bered 134,  the,  then,  burying  ground,  fronting  on  Third 
Street. 

This  cabin  was  two  feet  from  the  ground,  eighteen  by 
twenty  feet,  seven  logs  high,  without  chip  chinking,  a 
yellow-clay  daubing,   clapboard   roofing,  held   down  with 


8  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

weight  poles,  rough-slab  flooring,  and  log  seated,  without 
windows.  It  was  approached  from  the  roadway  or  Third 
Street  by  a  winding  pathway  through  clumps  of  hazel 
bushes,  and  by  these  bushes  was  hid  from  the  view  of 
passers-by  on  Main  Street,  and  was  then  worshiped  in  by 
the  men  and  women  of  God  in  that  day.  And  it  is  of 
interest  to  state  that  Charles  Spinning,  one  of  the  members 
of  the  Church  in  1876,  when  a  lad,  attended  and  heard  the 
word  of  God  read  and  preached  in  that  old  log  cabin 
church,  and  on  one  occasion,  prompted  by  a  boyish  freak, 
crawled  between  the  log  under-pinning  beneath  the  floor, 
and  through  some  hole  in  the  floor  up  into  the  room  whilst 
the  service  was  going  on.  The  cabin  church  was  sold 
for  $22,  and  the  amount  placed  in  the  new  church  build- 
ing fund. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  resolved, "  That  for  the  pur- 
pose of  enabling  the  trustees  to  make  the  meeting-house 
more  comfortable,  it  was  agreed  that  a  subscription  should 
be  raised,"  etc.,  etc.,  but  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  congre- 
gation, which  was  held  in  June,  1805,  the  trustees  reported 
that  it  was  inexpedient  to  do  anything  to  the  present  cabin 
meeting-house,  and  that  if  the  subscriptions  made  were  not 
sufiicient  to  build  a  brick  meeting-house,  that  the  money 
should  be  loaned  to  the  count}^  commissioners  to  build  a 
court-house,  with  the  understanding  that  the  use  of  the 
new  court-house  room  should  be  granted  to  the  Church  as 
a  place  of  worship,  until  the  money  should  be  refunded. 
The  arrangements  being  satisfactory  to  the  congregation, 
was  approved,  and  the  sum  of  $412   was  loaned.     This 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

Log  Cabin  Meeting  Ilovse,  built  /79.9 ;  sold  for -^^i^  in  I  HO.',, 

Corner  Third  and  Main  Stbkets,  Dayton,  O. 

The  fiist  Church  built  in  Dayton. 


EARLY  HISTORY.  » 

amount  appears  small,  but  at  that  time  it  was  much,  and 
required  sacrifices,  on  the  parts  of  some,  to  make  it  up  ; 
and  the  loan  was  not  refunded  until  1816. 

Under  this  arrangement  the  Church  services  were  moved 
u[)  to  the  corner  room  in  the  log  building  standing  on  the 
south-west  corner  of  Main  and  Water  Streets,  and,  then, 
in  1805,  used  as  the  county  court-room.  This  house  was 
also  the  tavern  of  the  town,  and,  then  was,  the  inn,  court- 
house, jail,  and  church  building  of  Dayton.  (It  is  there 
yet  in  use  as  a  store  and  dwelling.) 

The  court-house,  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  .Main 
Streets,  was  completed  in  1806,  and  thereafter  was  used 
for  church  on  Sabbath-days  for  several  years. 

One  of  the  trustees  having  resigned,  the  congregation 
was  called  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  the  meeting  resolved  to 
increase  the  Board  to  seven,  and  thereupon  D.  C.  Cooper, 
James  Hanna,  and  James  Miller  were  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancies.  Mr.  Cooper  having  invested  in  the  county 
commissioners  a  deed  of  trust  for  lot  numbered  133,  and 
134,  201,  202,  an  assignment  of  this  deed  was  presented 
by  the  commissioners  to  the  trustees  at  their  May  (1807) 
meeting,  and  it  was  ordered  that  the  same  be  deposited 
for  record. 

The  lots,  133  and  134,  were  situated  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Third  Streets,  and  were  subsequently  subdivided 
b}'  the  trustees  into  seven  lots  and  sold,  and  the  proceeds 
of  the  sale  appropriated  to  church  building. 

In  1804,  the  congregation  was  prosperous,  and  invited 
Jlev,  James  Welsh   to   take    charge    and    preach    for   the 


10  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Church.  He  accepted,  and  coutinuod  to  minister  to  the 
congregation  until  the  spring  of  1817,  when  about  the 
time  of  the  new  building,  latent  opposition,  which  had 
been  smouldering  for  some  time,  was  manifested  in  ex- 
pressions of  desire  that  his  ministry  should  cease. 

The  result  was,  the  Doctor  resigned.  There  were  some 
who  wished  him  to  be  continued  as  pastor,  and  their  feel- 
ings were  manifested  by  a  call  for  a  congregational  meet- 
ing of  all  who  desired  the  organization  of  a  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Dayton.  The  meeting  was  held,  and 
there  being  more  thau  twenty  members  of  the  First  Church 
present  who  were  favorable  to  such  an  organization,  it  was 
resolved  to  proceed  to  constitute  the  meeting  by  appoint- 
ing Dr.  Welsh,  moderator,  and  F.  Gosney,  secretary. 
They  then  proceeded  to  an  election  of  officers,  which 
resulted  in  the  choice  of  Henry  L.  Brown,  Henry  Robin- 
son, and  Andrew  Hood,  as  trustees;  and  F.  Gosney,  clerk; 
and  directed  that  a  legal  notification  of  the  action  of  the 
meeting  should  be  filed  with  the  recorder,  and  this  being 
done,  any  further  effort  to  establish  a  Second  Church, 
ceased. 

At  the  time  of  Dr.  Welsh's  taking  charge  of  the  Church, 
a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  trustees  and  congrega- 
tional meetings  was  commenced  and  has  been  continued. 
In  this  record  is  found  the  minute  that,  on  the  3rd  of  May, 
1806,  a  congregational  meeting  was  held  to  ^^  choose  elders 
to  form  a  sessioji,  and  John  McKaig,  John  Ritchie,  and 
James  Hanna  were  elected  to  constitute  the  session  of 
elders  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 


EARLY  HISTORY.  11 

It  seems  strange  to  state  that  no  sessional  records  were 
kept,  or  if  kept,  were  not  preserved  until  February  4th, 
1817.  Daring  the  long  pastorate  of  Dr.  Welsh,  the  one 
special  absorbing  question  in  the  Church  was,  how  to 
obtain  a  fixed  house  of  worship ;  and  in  this  struggle  the 
sympathy  of  the  congregation  and  people  of  the  town 
were  with  them. 

John  McKaig,  one  of  the  elders,  having  resigned,  it  was 
resolved  at  a  meeting  of  the  congregation,  held  May  16th, 
1807,  that  the  vacancy  should  be  filled,  and  also  that  one 
more  member  should  be  added  to  the  session,  whereupon 
John  Miller  and  Robert  Parks  were  elected,  making  in  all 
four  elders. 

Dissatisfaction  being  manifested  by  some  of  the  sub- 
scribers to  the  building  fund,  the  complaint  was  consid- 
ered June  27th,  1808,  and  the  trustees  determined  that  the 
amount  subscribed  should  be  reduced  one  half,  and  the 
remainder  be  settled  by  due  bills  payable  in  three  months 
to  the  county  commissioners. 

At  the  congregational  meeting,  December  -ird,  1811, 
matters  of  conference  and  agreements  between  the  trus- 
tees and  the  county  commissioners  were  reported  and  dis- 
cussed, and  it  was  determined  to  petition  the  Legislature 
to  pass  an  act  of  incorporation,  and  Dr.  Welsh  was  ap- 
pointed to  draft  a  law,  and  Mr.  Cooper  and  John  Miller 
to  circulate  a  petition  and  forward  the  same  to  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  county  for  presentation  and  enactment  by 
the  Legislature.  The  request  was  granted  by  the  passage 
of  a  law;  and  on  April  6th,  1812,  the  congregation  pro- 


12  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

ceeded  to  legally  organize  the  corporation  by  determining 
in  accordance  with  Section  3  of  the  act,  which  four  of  the 
trustees  should  vacate  their  office,  this  being  accomplished, 
a  new  election  was  entered  into,  and  after  the  result  was 
declared,  the  Board  of  Trustees,  under  the  act  of  incor- 
poration, consisted  of  D.  C.  Cooper,  John  Ewing,  Andrew 
Hood,  J.  H.  Williams,  John  Miller,  James  Hanna  and  Wm. 
King,  with  Mr.  McClure,  treasurer;  David  Reid,  clerk; 
and  Mathew  Patton,  collector;  and  thereupon  Jas.  Hanna 
was  chosen  chairman  of  the  Board,  and  Jno.  Ritchie  clerk, 
and  special  rules  passed  for  the  government  of  offices. 

In  all  these  years  there  does  not  appear  that  any  provi- 
sion was  made  for  paying  for  ministerial  services,  and 
it  must  be  presumed  that  voluntary  contributions  were 
made  and  depended  upon,  of  which,  perhaps,  the  right- 
hand  knew  not  of. 

The  act  of  incorporation  being  in  force  the  trustees  met 
June  15th,  1812,  and  resolved  that  they  were  empowered 
to  raise  by  subscription  funds  to  pay  the  preacher. 

The  propriety  of  changing  the  place  of  burial  was  can- 
vassed among  the  people,  and  as  Mr.  Cooper  had  donated 
two  lots  to  the  First  Presbyterian  congregation,  one  to 
the  Methodist  and  one  for  purposes  in  common  to  all,  as 
burying  grounds,  under  their  care  and  control.  Said  lots 
being  on  Fifth,  south  of  Wilkinson  Street.  The  trustees, 
at  their  meeting  in  June,  1812,  appointed  a  committee  to 
collect  money  to  pay  for  clearing,  fencing,  and  improving 
two  lots  donated,  261,  262,  and,  to  assist  in  making  these 
improvements,  the  committee  was  requested  to  ^^  call  upon 


EARLY  HISTORY.  13 

the  leading  characters  of  the  different  churches  and  learn 
whether  they  would  join  in  fencing  the  burying  ground." 

In  October,  the  committee  reported  "  That  they  had 
called  upon  the  leading  characters  of  the  different  congre- 
gations, and  that  the  leading  characters  of  the  Methodist 
Church  would  join  in  fencing  all  the  lot  intended  for  the 
burying  ground;  but,  there  being  no  leading  characters  of  the 
Baptist  congregation,  they  had.  no  report,  as  to  them." 

A  committee  was  then  appointed  to  prosecute  the  work, 
and,  in  June,  1815,  report  was  made  that  a  contract  had 
been  made  for  fencing,  clearing,  plowing,  and  sowing  with 
grass-seed  the  burial  lots;  and,  further,  directed  that  the 
lots  as  laid  out  on  the  ground  belonging  to  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  be  offered  at  public  sale,  at  the  court- 
house, on  the  second  court-day  in  September;  and  also  to 
offer  for  sale  the  sub-divided  parts  of  lot  133  and  134  at 
the  same  time  and  place. 

The  question  having  been  raised  as  to  who  were  qualified 
voters  in  congregational  meetings,  the  trustees  resolved, 
"That  all  who  should  declare  that  they  believed  them- 
selves to  have  been  baptized,  and  reside  within  ten  miles 
of  the  town  of  Dayton,  and  who  have  contributed  to  the 
congregation,  should  have  the  right  to  vote." 

At  this  meeting,  May  15th,  1813,  the  all-absorbing  ques- 
tion of  church  building  was  again  discussed,  and  a  com- 
mittee appointed  to  contract  for  a  lot,  and  this  committee 
subsequently  reported  that  Isaac  G.  Burnet  had  offered  to 
donate  from  his  land  at  the  south  of  Wilkinson  Street,  but 
the  lot  was  not  considered  well  situated;   and  they  had 


14  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

purchased  of  D.  C.  Cooper  a  lot,  at  the  west  end  of  Second 
Street,  for  $250.  In  May,  1814,  proposals  were  invited  for 
furnishing  materials  for  new  church  building  purposes, 
contracts  were  made,  and  some  of  the  lumber  and  stcne 
was  delivered.  But  the  location  of  the  lot  was  not  satis- 
factory to  some,  who  protested,  and  in  March,  1815,  the 
trustees  resolved  that  it  was  inexpedient  to  proceed  with 
the  building,  and  directed  that  the  materials  on  hand 
should  be  disposed  of.  The  trustees,  however,  met  again, 
on  May  15th,  and  re-resolved  that  it  was  expedient  to 
proceed  immediately  to  build  a  brick  meeting-house, 
thirty-four  by  fifty  feet,  in  accordance  with  a  plan  adopted 
contemplating  a  one-story  house ;  and  the  chairman  was 
authorized  to  purchase  of  D.  C.  Cooper  the  lot  on  the 
north-west  corner  of  Second  and  Ludlow  Streets  at  $i>00, 
with  the  understanding  that  the  lot  bought  for  $250 
should  be  taken  in  part  payment. 

The  exchange  was  made ;  and  the  plan  of  building  was 
so  changed  as  to  require  a  two-story  house,  forty-two  by 
fifty  feet,  with  a  gallery  on  three  sides  of  the  room. 

A  contract  was  made  and  the  building  was  commenced, 
but  for  a  time  its  construction  was  so  delayed  as  to  cause 
an  abandonment  of  the  agreement,  and  the  entering  into 
of  another  with  D.  C.  Cooper,  Joseph  Peirce,  Isaac  G. 
Burnet,  Benjamin  Van  Cleve,  and  David  Reid  to  complete 
the  work,  but  for  some  reason  this  engagement  was  soon 
abrogated,  and  the  trustees  proceeded  to  prosecute  the 
building.  The  plan  of  the  house  was  forty-two  by  fifty 
feet,  two-stories   high,  with  two  front  doors  on   Ludlow 


EARL  Y  HISTOR  Y.  16 

Street,  two  entrances  and  one  cross-aisle,  the  pulpit  on  the 
west  side,  about  eight  feet  from  the  floor,  and  approached 
by  a  flight  of  winding  steps.  On  the  lower  floor  there 
were  thirty-eight  single  and  four  double  pews,  the  gallery 
was  entered  by  stairs  from  each  front  door,  and  had  thirty- 
two  pews  in  it.  The  precentor's  desk  was  under  the  pulpit 
and  was  entered  from  the  cross-aisle.  In  that  early  time, 
as  well  as  in  this  centennial  year,  there  were  continued 
and  church-annoying  differences  of  opinions  as  to  who,  how 
many,  and  from  what  position  in  the  church  the  singing 
should  be  conducted.  And,  as  some  of  the  young  and  a  few 
of  the  old  were  not  content  to  have  the  precentor  from  un- 
der the  pulpit  lead  the  singing,  the  question  of  place  was 
submitted  to  the  trustees  in  1821,  and  they  resolved,  "That 
the  front  seats  in  the  middle  block  of  pews  in  the  gallery 
should  be  appointed  for  musicians;  and  that  persons  who 
were  acquainted  with  the  rules  of  singing  have  leave  to 
occupy  said  seats."  For  a  time,  this  change  was  satis- 
factory, but  then  came  the  question  of  permitting  the 
use  of  a  bass-viol,  the  assistance  of  such  an  instrument 
was  resisted,  but  soon  it  was  permitted  probationally. 

The  pews  in  the  lower  floor  were  quite  high,  and  would 
be  now  called  perhaps  box  seats,  and  however  acceptable 
to  the  fathers  and  mothers,  they  were  not  so  to  their 
children,  who  could  not  see  out,  excepting  they  would 
turn  their  eyes   upward. 

The  building  being  completed,  the  pews  were  offered  for 
sale,  on  the  terras  of  subscription,  October  4th,  1817,  and 
realized  ^2,980,  and  on  the  following  Sabbath  the  house 


16  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

was  occupied  in  public  worship,  with  thanksgiving  that 
all  their  plans,  contributions,  and  labors  had  resulted  so  well 
at  last.  Some  who  rejoiced,  although  not  members  of  the 
Church,  yet  had  been  interested  in  the  enterprise  from  its 
inception  to  its  completion,  and  were  greatly  pleased.  The 
entire  cost  of  the  lot  and  improvement  was  $6,961.62,  to 
make  up  this  sum,  privations,  such  as  we  are  not  called 
upon  in  these  days  to  endure,  were  graciously  submitted 
to.  Thirteen  years  elapsed  from  the  commencement  of  the 
preparation  until  the  occupancy  of  the  house  of  worship, 
but  faith,  perseverance,  and  good  words  prevailed  and  the 
blessing  came.  The  trustees  of  the  congregation,  up  to 
the  time  of  finishing  the  church,  were  John  Miller,  Robert 
Edgar,   David    Reid,  John   Ewing,  John    McCabe,   D.   C. 

• 

Cooper,  James  Hanna,  Andrew  Hood,  William  King, 
J.  H.  Williams,  Hezekiah  Robinson,  Matthew  Patton, 
James  Steele,  H.  G.  Phillips,  Isaac  G.  Burnet,  G.  W. 
Smith,  David  Lindsley ;  clerks,  David  Reid,  Rev.  James 
"Welsh,  Benjamin  Van  Cleve,  Job  Haines,  and  James 
Steele;  treasurers,  W.  McClure,  Obadiah  Conover,  and 
John  Folkerth;  collectors,  Matthew  Patton,  A.  McFadden, 
R.  Wilson,  John  King,  Daniel  Pierson,  and  A.  Darst; 
elders,  John  KcKaig,  John  Ritchie,  James  Hanna,  John 
Miller,  and  liobert  Parks;    pastor,  Rev.  James  Welsh. 

There  are  no  records  of  the  Church-members  to  which 
we  can  refer,  but  in  the  year  1819  there  were  94  com- 
municant-members on  the  roll. 

The  first  bell  hung  in  the  cupola  proved  to  be  too 
small,  and  an  arrangement  was  made  with  Mr.  Cooper  to 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

Built  1S17 ;  taken  dovm  18:VJ. 

CORNKK  Second  and  Ludlow  Streets,  Dayton,  Ohio. 

TVic-  second  Church  built  by  this  Congregation. 


EARL  Y  HIS  TOR  Y.  17 

exchange  it  for  a  larger  one.  When  the  large  bell  was 
delivered  at  Mr.  Cooper's  store,  he  put  it  on  a  barrow  and 
wheeled  it  to  the  church,  and  in  this  effort  so  injured 
himself  as  probably  to  hasten  the  time  of  his  death. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  not  only  the  first 
regularly-organized  Church  in  Dayton,  but  the  Sabbath- 
school  in  connection  with  it,  was  the  first  Sabbath-school 
formed  in  the  town,  and  the  third  organized  in  the  State. 

March  6th,  1817,  the  inquiry  was  made  by  some  citi- 
zens, "Do  we  need  a  Sunday-school  in  the  place?"  Rev. 
Backus  Wilbur,  a  licentiate  from  New  Jersey,  visited  and 
preached  for  the  congregation  several  months  during  the 
summer  and  fall  of  1817,  and  was  so  acceptable  in  his 
preaching  as  to  prompt  a  congregational  meeting  on  the 
13th  of  August,  and  a  call  to  be  given  him  to  become 
pastor  of  the  Church.  Mr.  Wilbur  returned  to  New 
Jersey,  but  did  not  for  some  reason  accept  and  return 
until  in  June,  1818,  when  he  commenced  his  ministry  and 
preached  until  he  was  ordained  and  installed,  August 
27th,  and  preached  his  first  and  only  sermon  as  pastor  on 
the  following  Sabbath.  Mr.  Wilbur  had  been  appointed 
by  Presbytery,  to  visit  and  preach  for,  and  administer 
the  communion  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Cincinnati  on  the  succeeding  Sabbath.  He  filled  the 
appointment,  and  whilst  in  Cincinnati  was  taken  sick,  and 
returned  to  Dayton,  continued  and  died  September  29th, 
1818,  in  his  thirtieth  year,  and  his  body  rests  in  Woodland 
Cemetery.  From  the  commencement  of  Mr.  Wilbur's  min- 
istry until  his  decease,  there  were  received  into  the  Church 
3 


18  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

27  on  certificate,  23  on  examination,  and  1  by  infant  bap- 
tism; in  all,  51.  In  1819  there  were  5  persons  received 
on  certificate. 

Rev.  Ahab  Jenks,  of  Connecticut,  was  invited  to  come 
and  preach  for  the  Church  in  December,  1819,  and  on  Feb- 
ruary 2d,  1820,  the  officers  of  the  Church  were  authorized 
to  procure  his  settlement  as  pastor  as  soon  as  practicable, 
at  a  salary  of  $600  per  year.  Mr.  Jenks  accepted  the  call, 
was  installed,  and  continued  to  preach  until  the  fall  ot 
1821,  when  his  relation  as  pastor  was  dissolved.  During 
the  time  of  his  ministry  there  were  members  added  on 
certificate,  14 ;  on  examination,  37 ;  in  all  51. 

After  Mr.  Jenks  left  and  before  the  coming  of  Mr.* 
Graham,  there  were  added  on  examination  to  the  mem- 
bership, 5 ;  infants  baptized,  8;  in  all,  13;  with  adult 
baptism,  4. 

In  the  winter  months  of  1822  and  1823,  the  Rev.  Wm. 
Graham  preached  for  the  congregation,  and  in  March  he 
was  elected  pastor  at  a  salary  of  $400,  which  lie  accepted, 
and  was  ordained  and  installed  on  May  8th,  1823,  and 
remained  pastor  until  February  6th  1826.  Under  his 
pastorate  there  were  added  to  the  Church  on  certificate, 
6;  on  examination,  29,  and  by  infant  baptism,  62;  making 
in  all,  97;  with  adult  baptism,  3. 

After  Mr.  Graham  left  and  before  another  was  called, 
there  were  5  members  received  on  certificate,  and  4  by 
infant  baptism;  in  all,  9. 

In  September,  1827,  Rev.  F.  Putnam  was  requested  to 
supply  the  pulpit  for  a  time,  and  he  remained  until  April, 


EARLY  HISTORY.  19 

1828,  and  was  then  engaged  as  stated  supply  for  one  year 
at  a  salary  of  $400,  and  continued  as  supply  from  year  to 
year  until  1836.     In  1830  the  Presbytery  called  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Church  to  the  propriety  of  settling  ministers  as 
permanent  pastors,  and,  as  Mr.  Putnam  had  preached  for 
the  congregation  two  or  three  years,  they  thought  it  would 
be  well  to  make  his  relation  to  the  Church  more  definite. 
The  reply  of  the  session  was  that  there  was  peace  under 
Mr.  Putnam  as  stated  supply,  and  this  might  be  disturbed 
if  a  pastoral  relation  was  attempted.     The  question  was 
not  further  agitated  until  the  meeting  of   Presbytery  in 
April,  1835,  when  the  question  was  again   mooted,  and, 
after  consideration,  the  pulpit  was  declared  vacant,  with 
the  understanding  (Mr.  Putnam  and  the  session  consent- 
ing) that  Mr.  Putnam  might  continue  as  supply  until  the 
meeting  of  Presbytery  in  April,  1836,  at  which  time,  if  a 
call   had  not  been  extended  to  Mr.   Putnam  to   become 
pastor,  his  ministry  to  the  First  Church  should  cease. 

The  congregation  met  subsequently  and  authorized  a 
call  to  be  extended  to  Mr.  Putnam  to  become  pastor,  but 
for  some  reason  it  was  not  made  out,  nor  was  it  presented 
to  him ;  hence,  in  accordance  with  the  direction  of  Pres- 
bytery, his  ministry  ceased  in  the  spring  of  1836. 

In  the  later  months  of  1828,  and  continuing  on  through 
182y,  a  gracious  revival  was  enjoyed,  and  the  result  was 
an  ingathering  to  the  membership  of  65  by  examination, 
14  by  certificate,  and  44  by  infant  baptism;  in  all,  128. 
The  whole  number  added  to  the  Church  during  Mr. 
Putnam's  ministry  was,  on  examination,  128;    on  certiti- 


20  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

eate,  108,  and  by  infant  baptism,  111 ;  in  all,  342.  It  is 
probable  that  the  questions  which  were  agitating  the 
entire  Presbyterian  Church,  were  being  felt  in  this  Church, 
and  may  have  had  some  influence  in  closing  Mr.  Put- 
nam's labors  at  this  time. 

Rev.  James  C.  Barnes,  of  Kentucky,  was  invited  to  visit 
the  Church  in  May,  1836.  Mr.  Barnes  came  and  preached 
two  Sabbaths  and  returned  to  his  home.  The  congrega- 
tion held  a  meeting  on  the  80th,  and  authorized  the  session 
to  invite  Mr.  Barnes  to  preach  for  the  Church,  as  stated 
supply,  foi>  one  year  at  a  salary  of  $800.  The  invitation 
was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Barnes  entered  upon  his  ministry 
on  the  second  Sabbath  of  July.  In  the  following  March 
he  was  requested  by  the  congregation  to  accept  the  pas- 
torate, to  which  he  assented,  and  was  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  Church  on  April  28th,  1839,  and  so  continued  until 
the  April  of  1845  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  when,  with 
the  assent  of  the  congregation,  he  applied  for  a  dissolu- 
tion of  the  relation  and  the  request  was  granted.  Dur- 
ing the  ministry  of  Mr.  Barnes  there  were  added  to  the 
Church  on  certificate,  85  ;  examination,  139,  and  by  infant 
baptism,  190;  making  in  all,  414;  with  adult  baptism,  40. 

Several  special  seasons- of  revival  graces  were  granted 
to  the  Church  under  Mr.  Barnes'  preaching;  the  most 
marked  being  in  1843,  the  result  of  which  was  an  in- 
gathering of  4  on  certificate,  66  on  examination,  and  24 
by  infant  baptism ;  total,  94.  And  in  this  work  the 
preaching  of  Kev.  W.  Cox,  who  assisted,  was  greatly 
blessed  to  the  whole  congregation. 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 
Built  IS4I ;  taken  down  hHH7. 

(;ORNKI;   >;E(:t)ND   AND   LUDLOW   STREETS, 

UAYTON,   O. 

7'hc'  third  Cliitirli  f'ltilt  f\v  this    L'on:^rcgatioii. 


EARL  Y  HISTOR  Y.  2 1 

The  prosperity  of  the  congregation  in  its  spiritual  and 
temporal  interests  demanded  a  new  and  enlarged  house 
of  worship,  and  hence  the  congregation  authorized  sub- 
acriptions  to  be  taken  to  erect  a  house  upon  a  plan  sub- 
mitted, of  50  by  70  feet,  with  a  basement-story,  and  steeple. 

The  old  house  was  taken  down  and  the  new  one  erected 
in  its  place  at  a  cost  of  $14,213.08,  and  the  congregation 
worshiped  in  it  for  more  than  twenty-seven  years,  when 
it  gave  place  to  the  present  plain,  substantial,  more  costly, 
enlarged,  and  beautiful  edifice  145  by  72  feet  on  the  base. 

Although  the  absorbing  questions  incident  to  the  con- 
troversies agitating  the  entire  Presbyterian  Church,  were 
having  their  influence  in  the  First  Church  at  the  time  of 
Mr.  Barnes'  coming,  yet  such  was  his  character  as  a  man 
and  minister  of  peace  and  love,  as  not  to  have  his  influ- 
ence for  good  much  interferred  with  by  reason  of  the  Old 
and  New  School  division. 

The  session  having  been  reduced  by  the  withdrawal  of 
two  members,  a  meeting  was  called  and  an  election  held 
October  4,  1840,  and  James  Steele,  David  Osborn,  Samuel 
King,  and  Charles  Spinning  —  all  of  whom,  excepting 
James  Steele,  were  duly  ordained  and  installed  in  their 
ofiices. 

The  trustees  prospered  and  had  the  building  up  and 
enclosed,  and  the  basement-room  ready  for  occupancy  and 
worship  on  the  26th  of  October,  1839,  at  which  time  the 
place  was  formally  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God, 
who  had  so  manifestly  watched  over  the  efforts  for  good 
through  the  two  years  of  most  severe  trial. 


22  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

The  trustees  made  report  on  April  18th,  1842,  that  the 
church  buildiug  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $14,213.08; 
that  the  appraised  value  on  the  pews  was  $16,080,  and  re- 
commended that  sale  of  the  pews,  according  to  the  terms 
of  subscription,  be  made  on  the  building,  on  the  30th. 
The  sale  took  place,  and  47  pews  were  sold  for  $12,011, 
and  the  main  audience-room,  having  been  carpeted,  up- 
holstered, etc.,  was  occupied  for  the  first  time  on  the 
following  Sabbath.  Upon  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Barnes,  in 
1845,  the  congregation  was  called  to  meet,  and  determine 
the  question  of  giving  Rev.  W.  H.  McGutfey  a  pastoral 
call ;   it  was  determined,  but  Mr.  McGuffey  declined. 


HISTORY   OF   THE 

FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.  OF  DAYTON,  OHIO. 


IBOM  1845   TO  1880- 


REV.    JAMES    C.    BARNES. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Barnes  was,  iu  his  day,  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  men  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Before  his 
call  to  Dayton,  he  had  acquired  much  distinction  as  an 
evangelist  and  revivalist.  The  want  of  any  system  of  pub- 
lic schools  in  Kentucky,  left  a  large  portion  of  the  people  of 
that  State  wholly  destitute  of  education,  secular  or  relig- 
ious, especially  in  the  sparsely-settled  counties  south  of  the 
Kentucky  River. 

Mr.  Barnes,  on  completing  his  divinity  course,  was  im- 
bued with  an  earnest  desire  to  carry  the  gospel  to  the 
heathen,  and  his  attention  being  directed  to  the  destitu- 
tion in  his  own  State,  he  entered  on  that  tield  of  duty 
with  the  utmost  devotion,  and  his  labors  were  attended 
with  extraordinary  success.  His  massive  form,  earnest 
delivery  and  powerful  voice  contributed  greatly  to  his 
influence  over  an  audience. 


24  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

The  people  listened  to  him  with  enthusiasm  ;  multitudes 
were  converted  under  his  preaching,  and  many  schools 
and  churches  were  organized  through  his  instrumentality. 

In  this  work  he  was  encouraged  and  liberally  aided  for 
many  years,  by  leading  men  of  Kentucky,  but,  at  length, 
failing  health,  and  the  necessity  of  educating  his  children 
obliged  him  to  withdraw  from  this  arduous  field.  He  left 
two  sons  in  the  ministry,  J.  Loton  and  George  O.  Barnes, 
now  of  Kentucky.  Some  years  ago  the  younger  son, 
George  O.,  claimed  to  have  received  a  special  commission 
from  heaven ;  and  in  obedience  thereto  he  began  his  evan- 
gelical career,  preaching  six  days  in  the  week  wherever  the 
spirit  might  lead  him.  His  methods  being  at  variance 
with  the  standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  he  was 
suspended  from  the  ministry  of  that  body,  but  the  suspen- 
sion did  not  diminish  his  ardor.  Unawed  by  church  cen- 
sure, and  untrammeled  by  ecclesiastical  law,  he  now  moves 
in  his  eccentric  orbit,  as  a  blazing  comet  among  the  cleri- 
cal constellations  of  Kentucky.  The  Rev.  George  0,  was 
received  upon  examination  to  the  membership  of  the  First 
Church,  of  Dayton,  in  1844.  It  is  not  improbable  that  he 
owes  much  of  his  popularity  in  Kentucky  to  the  esteem 
and  veneration  that  is  still  cherished  there  for  the  memory 
of  his  father. 

NEW  AND  OLD  SCHOOL  DIVISION. 

During  the  early  period  of  Mr.  Barnes'  ministry,  the 
harmony  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States 
was  disturbed  by  a  controversy  that  arose  among  its  lead- 


NEW  AND  OLD  SCHOOL  DIVISION.  25 

ing  members,  and  resulted,  1838,  in  separating  the  Church 
into  two  branches,  known  as  the  New  and  Old  School. 

The  issue  involved  certain  abstruse  theological  points 
which  the  great  body  of  Presbyterians  never  fully  com- 
prehended. Indeed  it  has  been  said  that  no  formulated 
statement  of  the  issue  was  ever  made  that  both  parties 
could  agree  to  pronounce  correct.  After  the  division, 
these  branches  adhered  to  the  same  standards  of  doctrine 
as  taught  in  the  "Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,"  and 
"  Church  Catechisms."  They  adhered  to  the  same  form 
of  worship  and  government,  and  each  professed  to  be 
"The  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States"  —  the 
only  mark  of  distinction  in  their  thirty  years  of  separate 
existence  being  the  parenthetical  appendix  of  O.  S.  and  N.  S. 

To  some  it  will  appear  strange  that  a  body  of  intelligent 
Christians,  embracing  hundreds  of  thousands  in  its  com- 
munion, should  divide  so  evenly  upon  an  issue  so  trifling 
as  that  above  represented,  an  issue  involving  no  tangible  or 
real  heresy,  as  was  subsequently  proved  by  the  voluntary 
reunion  of  these  branches.  The  only  plausible  explana- 
tion of  the  schism  is,  that  during  the  hot  and  protracted 
discussions  of  the  vexed  questions  on  the  floor  of  the 
general  assembly,  and  in  the  newspapers,  the  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  throughout  the  land  became 
divided,  not  in  creed  or  sentiment,  but  in  personal  sym- 
pathy with  one  or  other  of  the  distinguished  combatants. 
Those  of  conservative  temperament  were  satisfied  to  fol- 
low the  lead  of  such  men  as  Breckenridge,  Wilson,  and 
Alexander,  while  many  symjiathizod  with  Lyman  Beecher, 
4 


26  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Albert  Barnes,  and  others  who  refused  to  accept,  as  a  new- 
test  of  orthodoxy,  the  private  interpretation  of  certain  mys- 
tical doctrines,  which  their  adversaries  sought  to  impose. 

The  division  of  1838  was  in  keeping  with  the  past  his- 
tory of  Presbyterians,  whose  ancient  and  deep-rooted  love 
of  civil  and  religions  liberty,  makes  them  perhaps  mor- 
bidly sensitive  to  any  show  of  arbitrary  authority  in  mat- 
ters of  conscience.  Hence  it  is  that  this  branch  of  the 
true  Church  has  suffered  more  from  schism  than  any  other 
Protestant  denomination. 

A  hopeful  effort  is  now  being  made  by  the  various 
branches  of  the  Presbyterian  family  in  this  country  and 
Europe  to  remove  the  reproach.  The  plan  is  to  so  modify 
the  terms  of  fellowship  that  Presbyterians  of  every  shade 
and  name  may  come  together  as  one  bod}',  and  thus  secure 
for  the  Church  the  inestimable  advantages  of  corporate 
unity  with  true  Christian  liberty. 

When  men  can  agree  upon  a  creed  so  comprehensive  and 
minute  as  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  embrac- 
ing, as  it  does,  all  the  essential  points  of  Bible  truth,  and 
many  non-essential  doctrines,  they  ought  surely  to  be 
allowed  some  libertj'^  of  opinion  on  minor  points,  especiallj- 
on  those  verbal  subtilties  of  theology,  which  have  dis- 
tracted the  Church  in  past  ages,  and  filled  the  world  with 
angry  and  unprofitable  disputations.  The  people  of  the 
First  Church  warmly  favor  the  Pan-Presbyterian  move- 
ment; they  do  not  believe  that  God  has  been  pleased  to 
specify  in  his  word,  every  particular  rule  of  ecclesiastical 
government  and   worship,  but  that,  on  the  contrary,  he 


NEW  AND  OLD  SCHOOL  DIVISION  27 

has  left  many  things  to  the  discretion  of  his  people,  and 
if  his  people  differ  with  each  other  in  charity,  there  can  be 
no  ground  offense. 

The  First  Church  of  Dayton  contributed  a  colony  to 
the  New  School  organization.  This  colony  consisted  of 
seventy-three  members  under  the  lead  of  Peter  Odlin,  Esq., 
and  Dr.  John  Steele,  both  elders  of  the  First  Church.  It 
does  not  appear  that  any  letters  of  dismissal  were  given  or 
asked  for  by  the  outgoing  party,  who  organized  the  New 
School,  now  the  Second   Presbyterian   Church  of  Dayton. 

The  seceding  branch,  after  its  withdrawal,  claimed  an 
interest  in  the  property  of  tlie  parent  Church,  which  gave 
rise  to  a  serious  disagreement.  This  was,  however,  amica- 
bly adjusted — the  First  Church  agreeing  to  pay  the  claim- 
ants $1500.  It  may  be  added  that  this  compromise  was 
brought  about  chietiy  through  the  wisdom  and  moderation 
of  Drs.  Job  Haines  and  John  Steele. 

Referring  to  this  settlement  Dr.  Haines,  in  his  Historical 
Sketch  of  the  Church,  says: 

"This  sum  was  paid  by  individual  subscription,  with- 
out touching  the  property  of  the  corporation  and  without 
any  acknowledgement  by  the  trustees  or  corporators,  that 
the  claim  was  a  legal  one.  As  we  were  then  circum- 
stanced—  the  old  house  torn  down,  and  contracts  made, 
and  materials  collected  for  a  new  edifice  —  we  chose  rather 
to  procure  peace  by  such  a  compromise,  than  to  be  hin- 
dered in  the  erection  of  a  house  by  a  lawsuit,  and  all  its' 
unpleasant  consequences  upon  the  feelings  of  neighbors 
who  had  heretofore  worshiped  together  in  the  sanie  place." 


28  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

REV.  DR.  AiN^DERSON'S  PASTORATE. 

The  Kev.  William  C.  Anderson,  D.  D.,  the  successor  of 
Mr.  Barnes,  began  his  ministry  on  the  1st  of  February, 
1846.  This  gentleman  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  preacher, 
pastor,  and  friend.  Being  of  a  genial  nature  he  formed 
acquaintances  readily,  and  the  charms  of  his  conversation 
and  manners  seldom  failed  to  impress  those  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact.  Brevity  was  a  characteristic  of  his  ser- 
mons. It  was  often  said  that  no  hearer  ever  slept  under 
the  sound  of  his  voice. 

He  took  more  pleasure  in  outdoor  work  than  in  his 
study.  It  interested  him  to  mingle  with  the  common 
people,  and  to  aid  and  encourage  them  in  their  temporal 
as  well  as  their  spiritual  embarrassments. 

Another  prominent  characteristic  of  Dr.  Anderson's 
was  his  kind  attention  to  strangers.  This  he  held  to  be 
one  of  the  cardinal  duties  of  religion.  It  was  his  practice 
to  call  upon  all  strangers  that  came  to  settle  in  Dayton, 
and  many  will  remember  his  Saturday  custom  of  being  at 
the  old  National  Hotel,  when  the  afternoon  stage  coaches 
arrived,  in  order  to  learn  what  passengers  intended  to 
stop  over  for  the  Sabbath.  These  were  sure  to  receive  a 
cordial  invitation  to  his  church  on  the  next  day,  and  the 
invitation  was  usually  accompanied  by  the  promise  of  a 
cold  dinner,  should  the  sermon  prove  tiresome,  or  other- 
wise  unsatistactory. 

Before  the  close  of  Dr.  Anderson's  connection  with  the 
Church,  there  arose  a  very  general  sentiment  in  favor  of 


REV.  DR.  ANDERSON'S  PASTORATE.  29 

establishing  a  new  colony  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city. 
A  committee  consisting  of  Dr.  Job  Haines,  Herbert  S. 
Williams,  and  Henry  L.  Brown  was  appointed  to  raise 
funds  lor  the  purchase  of  a  suitable  lot,  on  which  to  build 
a  house  of  worship  for  the  new  congregation. 

At  this  time,  February,  1849,  Dr.  Anderson's  health  had 
become  much  impaired,  and  feeling  himself  incapacitated 
for  preaching,  by  reason  of  chronic  disease  of  the  throat, 
he  determined  to  make  a  visit  to  Europe,  of  some  months 
duration.  The  session  readily  assented,  and  unanimously 
agreed  to  continue  the  pastorai  relation,  hoping  the  Doc- 
tor's visit  might  be  the  means  of  his  restoration  to  health. 

After  consultation  with  the  pastor  and  with  his  advice, 
the  congregation,  March  1st,  1849,  decided  to  employ  the 
Rev.  F.  T.  Brown,  of  Madison,  Indiana,  to  occupy  the 
pulpit.  He  was  informed  of  the  movement  in  favor  of  a 
new  church,  and  the  hope  was  expressed  that  he  would 
take  an  interest  in  this  enterprise  with  a  view  to  accept- 
ing the  pastorate  of  the  new  organization,  provided  the 
arrangement  would  be  mutually  satisfactory  to  all  parties 
interested. 

Mr.  Brown  accepted  the  invitation  and  served  the  Church 
trom  March  1st,  to  September  1st,  when  he  received  a  call 
to  another  lield  of  labor. 

About  this  time  Dr.  Anderson  returned  from  Europe 
and  resumed  his  duties;  but,  a  few  weeks  later,  he  sent 
the  following  letter  to  the  congregation  : 


BO  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

"  To  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Dayton: 

^^ Dear  Brethren:  A  return  of  the  malady  with  which  I 
was  afflicted  last  winter,  has  rendered  it  impossible  for  me 
any  longer  to  discharge  properly  the  duties  of  your  pastor. 
I  therefore  request  you  to  concur  with  me  in  an  applica- 
tion to  the  Miami  Presbytery  for  a  dissolution  of  my  pas- 
toral relation  to  you. 

"In  the  bonds  of  the  gospel  of  Christ, 

"I  am  3'our8,  etc., 

"  W.  C.  Anderson." 

On  the  15th  of  October^a  meeting  of  the  members  of 
the  Church  and  congregation  was  duly  convened  to  con- 
sider the  pastor's  letter,  which,  being  publicly  read,  the 
following  action  w^as  taken  : 

"Whereas,  The  Rev.  William  C.  Anderson,  D.  D.,  the 
pastor  of  this  Church,  having,  on  account  of  continued 
ill-health,  applied  for  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation 
between  him  and  this  Church  ;  therefore, 

'•^Resolved,  Tliat  however  painful  it  may  be  to  the  mem- 
bers of  this  Church  to  part  with  a  beloved  pastor  in  whom 
they  are  all  united,  yet,  in  view  of  the  dispensation  of 
Providence  which  has  rendered  this  application  necessary, 
we  concur  in  the  same,  and  appoint  Drs.  Job  Haines  and 
George  Green  to  communicate  this,  our  action,  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Miami,  at  its  session  in  this  place,  on  the 
16th  instant. 

"Thereupon  the  meeting   adjourned. 
"Attest:  "Job  Haines, 

"  Youngs  V.  Wood,  Clerk.'"  Moderator^ 


REV.  DR.  ANDERSON'S  PASTORATE.  31 

A  short  time  after  his  relation  with  the  Dayton  Church 
was  dissolved,  Dr.  Anderson  was  called  to  the  presidency 
of  the  xMiami  University,  Oxford,  Ohio,  which  position  he 
tilled  successfully  for  some  years.  For  a  time  he  was  a 
professor  in  Hanover  College,  Indiana.  He  also  minis- 
tered,'as  regular  pastor,  at  Chillicothe,  New  Albany,  San 
Francisco,  Cincinnati,  and  Junction  City,  Kansas.  He 
died  at  the  latter  place  on  the  28th  of  August,  1870.  He 
visited  Europe  four  times  and  spent  the  winter  of  1866  in 
Palestine. 

Few  ministers  of  the  gospel  were  more  widely  known 
or  more  generally  admired  throughout  the  West  than 
Dr.  W.  C.  Anderson.  He  was  a  man  of  great  activity 
and  resources,  fond  of  novelty,  and  somewhat  restless  in 
temperament.  He  seldom  staid  more  than  four  years  in 
one  place,  and  for  this  reason  he  was  jocularly  spoken  of 
among  his  familiar  friends  as  the  "clerical  knight  errant 
of  the  West." 

The  following  incident  illustrating  certain  traits  of  Dr. 
Anderson's  character,  was  detailed  to  the  writer  many 
years  ago  : 

The  late  Col.  Berry  man,  of  Kentucky,  a  wealthy  land- 
holder and  prominent  Presbyterian,  had  met  Dr.  Anderson 
at  a  session  of  the  general  assembly.  Their  brief  acquaint- 
ance on  that  occasion  developed  a  very  friendly  sentiment 
which  was  strengthened  by  subsequent  correspondence. 
Years  afterward  Dr.  Anderson  was  paying  a  visit  to  an 
old  friend  in  the  Blue  Grass  region,  and  learning  that  the 
residence  of  Col.  Berryman  was  but  a  few  miles  distant, 


32  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

he  decided  to  call  upon  him,  partly  out  of  personal  regard, 
and  partly  to  obtain  a  subscription  for  a  frontier  mission 
in  which  he  was  interested.  Receiving  the  necessary  in- 
structions from  his  friend,  he  set  out  to  make  the  journey 
on  foot.  After  traversing  many  broad  hemp  fields  and 
extensive  wood  pastures,  he  approached  an  ancient  looking 
mansion,  about  which  were  promiscuously  distributed  a 
numerous  assortment  of  log  cabins,  and  other  wooden 
structures,  of  every  size  and  style  peculiar  to  a  southern 
plantation  of  the  olden  time.  He  did  not  suppose  the 
house  to  be  Col.  Berryman's,  as  his  instructions  were  that 
he  should  see  three  houses  by  the  way  before  reaching 
his  destination,  and  he  had  passed  but  two.  Near  the 
house  before  him,  he  saw  a  company  of  men  threshing 
wheat,  and  was  passing  them  at  a  brisk  gait  with  his  coat 
over  his  arm,  and  a  roll  on  the  bottom  of  his  pants,  when 
he  was  abruptly  accosted  by  a  fat,  ruddy  gentleman,  sitting 
on  a  stout  poney,  and  evidently  superintending  the  work. 
This  gentleman,  in  a  kindly  voice,  called  out: 

"Hello  !  do  you  know  where  you  are?" 

Dr.  Anderson  —  "Hello  to  yourself!  I  can  hardly  say 
that  I  do." 

Col.  Berryman  —  "If  you  are  hunting  a  job  of  work,  I 
can  accommodate  you;  I  am  short  of  hands  this  morning." 

Dr.  Anderson  —  "I'm  afraid  your  wages  wouldn't  suit 
me;   what  do  you  pay?" 

Whether  Col.  Berryman  suspected  that  the  stranger's 
reply  contained  a  sly  allusion  to  the  cost  of  slave  labor,  is 


REV.  DR.  ANDERSON'S  PASTORATE.  ^ 

not  known,  but  there  was  a  slight  change  in  the  tone  of 
his  voice  as  he  responded : 

"Oh  !  I'll  pledge  myself  to  pay  as  much  for  your  work 
as  your  last  employer  gave  you." 

Dr.  Anderson  — "That's  fair  enough;  I'm  your  man," 
said  the  Doctor,  and  taking  off  his  necktie  and  collar,  he 
put  them  carefully  into  his  coat  pocket,  laid  the  coat  over 
a  fence  rail,  and  announced  himself  ready  for  business,  at 
the  same  time  requesting  the  "boss"  to  make  a  note  of 

his  time. 

It  should  be  stated  that  when  this  colloquy  began.  Dr. 
Anderson  chanced  to  glance  in  the  direction  from  which 
he  had  come,  and  noticed  for  the  first  time  a  small  house 
standing  near  the  edge  of  the  grove  he  had  last  traversed, 
and  which  a  slight  deviation  from  his  course  had  kept  out 
of  view.  He  instantly  concluded  that  the  gentleman  in 
the  saddle  was  none  other  than  Col.  Berryman  himself. 
A  nearer  approach  fully  verified  this  conclusion,  and  gave 
him  an  advantage  in  the  engagement  above  narrated,  a» 
well  as  in  the  subsequent  proceedings. 

Dr.  Anderson  did  not  believe  in  a  regulation  uniform 
for  the  clergy.  He  thought  a  man,  and  especially  a  clergy- 
man, should  be  known  by  his  works,  and  not  by  the  works 
of  his  tailor;  or,  by  any  rigid  restraint  of  manner.  To  find 
himself  mistaken  for  a  workingman,  in  search  of  employ- 
ment, was,  therefore,  not  ofi"ensive,  and  he  decided,  if  possi- 
ble, to  remain  incognito,  for  a  time,  and  trust  to  circum- 
stances for  a  favorable  denouement.  He  had  an  idea  that 
the  mistake  would   turn   to   his  advantage;    at  any   rate. 


34  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

thought  he,  "it  is  a  novel  adventure,  and  a  few  hours  work 
will  not  hurt  my  digestion." 

He  tossed  the  straw  from  the  thresher  as  gracefully  as 
if  he  had  been  bred  on  a  farm  (which,  in  fact,  was  the 
case),  and  when  the  dinner  bell  chimed,  the  Colonel  com- 
plimented him  on  his  good  work,  and  told  him  to  go 
with  the  white  men  that  managed  the  machine,  and  the 
housekeeper  would  give  them  dinner.  "Do  they  not  dine 
with  you?"  said  the  Doctor;  the  Colonel  smiled,  and  re- 
plied, "No;  that  is  not  the  custom  with  us."  "Well," 
said  the  Doctor,  "  I  have  always  been  accustomed  to  eat 
at  the  table  with  my  boss ;  I  am  a  citizen  of  Ohio,  and  if 
I  were  to  work  for  a  man  who  is  too  proud  to  sit  at  the 
table  with  me,  on  week  days  or  Sabbath,  I  would  be 
ashamed  to  look  my  old  neighbors  in  the  face."  The 
Colonel  was  struck  with  the  Buckeye's  speech  and  bear- 
ing. He  regarded  him  as  an  extraordinary  specimen  of 
the  northern  mudsill,  and  promptly  rejoined,  "It  is  not  u 
matter  of  pride,  but  of  convenience,  and  although  we  have 
some  company  to-day,  yet  if  you  prefer  it,  you  shall  dine 
with  us ;  get  your  coat  and  shirt  collar  and  I  will  send 
Tom  to  brush  you  off  in  the  wash-room." 
'  The  Doctor  was  directed  to  the  wash-room,  where  Tom 
soon  appeared  with  brush  and  blacking. 

It  used  to  go  hard  with  a  southern  slave  to  be  ol)liged 
to  wait  on  a  white  laborer,  and  Tom  was  proceeding  with 
his  work  very  doggedly,  till  his  eye  caught  the  shining 
rim  of  a  silver  quarter,  between  the  Doctor's  finger  and 
thumb,  which  the  holder  made  no  effort  to  conceal.     This 


HEV.  dr.  ANDERSON'S  PASTORATE.  36 

glimpse  of  the  coin  acted  like  a  galvanic  battery  on  Tom's 
muscles  and  so  stimulated  his  energies  that,  when  Col.  Ber- 
ryman  returned,  the  Doctor  was  looking  quite  respectable. 

The  Colonel  led  the  way  to  the  dining-room  and  had 
his  hand  on  the  knob,  when  he  halted,  and  turning  about, 
said,  hurriedly,  "i  have  forgotten  your  name.  I  must 
introduce  you.     What  may  I  call  you?" 

"You  may  call  me  Smith,  if  you  choose,  sir,  but  my 
name  is  Anderson." 

The  Colonel  had  expected  his  new  employee  to  betray 
some  degree  of  embarrassment  at  the  near  pros})ect  of  an 
introduction  to  company  far  above  his  station  in  life,  and 
was  puzzled  by  this  display  of  extreme  self-possession  and 
pleasantry.  Had  there  been  any  coarseness  in  the  fellow's 
behavior  his  easy  nonchalance  might  have  been  attributed 
to  that  bold  spirit  of  iudependeuce  common  to  men  who 
have  been  inured  to  frontier  life,  but  the  stranger's  manner 
and  language  were  courteous  and  even  bland. 

On  entering  the  dining-hall  the  guests  were  making 
their  appearance  at  the  opposite  side.  "  Mr.  Anderson " 
was  introduced  to  Mrs.  Berryman  —  the  Colonel  quietly 
adding,  "this  is  the  gentleman  I  said  would  take  dinner 
with  us  to-day;"  he  was  then  introduced  to  the  company 
collectively  as  "Mr.  Anderson,  from  Ohio."  The  chair 
assigned  to  him  was  next  to  that  of  Col.  Berrymau's 
nephew.  Major  J.,  who  afterward  be^-ame  a  general  in  the 
Union  army,  and  to  whom  the  writer  is  chiefly  indebted 
for  the  particulars  of  this  episode.  Opposite  the  Major  was 
seated  Judge  M.,  a  lawyer  and  politician,  whose  charming 


S6  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

flow  ol  conversation  and  sparkling  jokes  were  listened  to 
with  such  eagerness  and  enjoyment,  by  the  company,  that 
none  could  quc'Stion  his  rank  as  an  Autocrat  of  the  Dinner 
Table. 

When  the  dinner  service  was  half  over,  a  servant  entered 
and  whispered  a  message  to  Col.  Berryman,  who  begged 
to  be  excused  for  a  minute,  and  withdrew.  At  this  junc- 
ture, the  Major  gave  a  turn  to  the  conversation  by  refer- 
ring to  a  discussion  he  had  had  with  Judge  M.,  before 
dinner,  in  reference  to  Senator  Corwin.  He  said  he  wished 
to  learn  from  Mr.  Anderson  whether  it  was  true,  as  his 
friend  M.  claimed,  that  the  people  of  Ohio  had  lost  confi- 
dence in  Mr.  Corwin,  on  account  of  his  speech  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  continuance  of  the  war  with  Mexico. 

Mr.  Anderson  replied  that  the  speech  referred  to  had 
no  doubt  greatly  diminished  Mr.  Corwin's  popularity  with 
the  masses  in  Ohio,  but  it  had  elevated  him  very  much  in 
the  estimation  of  the  more  intelligent  citizens  of  the  State, 
who  were  not  affected  by  the  war  fever. 

This  opinion  strengthened  the  Major's  position,  and  the 
discussion  was  renewed  between  him  and  his  friend,  whose 
superior  knowledge  and  logical  training  gave  him  an  easy 
victory  in  the  controversy. 

With  the  evident  purpose  of  affording  relief  to  her 
nephew  in  the  unequal  contest,  Mrs.  Berryman  expressed 
a  desire  to  hear  Mr.  Anderson's  own  views  respecting 
Senator  Corwin's  course  on  the  Mexican  question.  This 
proposition  was  seconded  by  several  voices,  and  the  Doctor 
yielded  to  their  desire  —  the  more  readily,  he  said,  because 


REV.  DR.  ANDERSON'S  PASTORATE.  87 

Mr.  Cor  win  was  his  personal  friend  and  neighbor,  and  had 
been  grossly  misrepresented  by  the  political  press  of  the 
country. 

He  then  made  a  brief  but  lucid  statement  of  Senator 
Corwin's  position  —  which  was,  that  our  war  with  Mexico 
was  unprovoked,  unnecessary,  and  unjust  —  that  it  was 
President  Polk's  war — brought  on  by  himself,  without 
authority  from  Congress  or  the  people;  that  the  prosecu- 
tion of  such  a  war  upon  a  weak  sister  republic  was  a  mon- 
strous wrong,  and  that  in  opposing  it,  he  (Mr.  Corwin)  was 
impelled  by  a  high  sense  of  duty  to  his  own  conscience, 
and  public  justice.  He  delivered  a  glowing  eulogy  on  Mr. 
Corwin's  integrity  of  character,  closing  with  the  following 
words:  "The  time  will  come,  when  the  moral  heroism  of 
Mr.  Corwin's  great  anti-war  speech  in  the  Senate,  will 
shed  a  brighter  lustre  on  his  name,  than  all  the  other 
triumphs  of  his  matchless  eloquence." 

When  the  Doctor  finished,  the  company  remained 
silent,  they  seemed  spell-bound  by  the  unexpected  grace 
and  power  of  his  deliverance.  At  length  Mrs.  Berryman 
thanked  him  for  the  great  pleasure  he  had  given  her,  a 
pleasure  in  which  the  whole  company  professed  their 
hearty  participation. 

"There  is  a  lady  near  me,"  said  Mrs.  Berryman  to  the 
Doctor,  "who  wishes  me  to  ask  you  a  very  impertinent 
question.  I  will  not  do  it  without  your  permission."  "I 
am  your  liege  servant.  Madam,"  said  the  Doctor.  "  You 
have  no  need  to  ask;  command  and  I  will  dbey."  "Well, 
then,  she  wants  to  know  if  you  are  Charles  Ande?'son,  of 


38  FIRST  PRESSYT^RIAN  CHVRCB 

Dayton,  Ohio.  She  does  not  know  Charles  Anderson  per- 
sonally, but  she  is  one  of  his  ardent  admirers."  "If  that 
he  so,"  said  the  Doctor,  "then  am  I  sorry  that  my  name 
is  not  Charles  but  William." 

Dinner  being  over  the  "gentlemam  from  Ohio"  has- 
tened to  resume  his  work  beside  the  threshing  machine. 
His  comrades  were  not  there,  but  he  found  two  Hibernians 
lying  on  the  straw  pile;  they  were  hunting  a  job  of  work, 
and  learning  that  Mr.  Berryman  had  gone  with  the  men 
to  recover  a  runaway  team,  were  waiting  his  return.  The 
Colonel  and  his  posse  soon  came  back  with  the  team,  all 
in  good  order. 

The  Hibernians  pressed  their  request,  but  the  Colonel 
thought  he  had  all  the  help  he  needed;  just  then  Dr. 
Anderson  interposed  the  remark : 

"It  will  probably  be  to  your  advantage,  Colonel,  to 
hire  those  men  and  dismiss  me." 

Col.  Berryman.     "Why  so?" 

Dr.  Anderson.  "You  can  hire  both  of  them  for  less 
than  you  pay  me." 

Col.  Berryman.  "Indeed!  May  I  ask  what  wages  your 
last  employer  paid  you  ? " 

Dr.  Anderson.  "My  last  employers  paid  me  ^1200  for 
lifty-tvvo  days  work  —  averaging  about  $23  a  day." 

Col.  Berryman.  "  You  didn't  get  that  much  for  thresh- 
ing wheat,  did  you?" 

Dr.   Anderson.     "No;    I  worked  in  the  harvest  field." 

Col.  Berryman.     "In  whose  harvest  field?" 

Dr.  Anderson.     "In  my  Master's." 


REV.  DR.  ANDERSON'S  PASTORATE.  39 

Col.  Berryman.     "And  who  is  your  master?" 

Dr.  Anderson.  "Brother  Berryman,  you  and  I  serve  one 
Master,"  and,  saying  this,  he  reached  out  his  hand,  cor- 
dially, which  the  Colonel  seized,  and  held  silently  in  his 
warm  pressure,  for,  at  the  word  "brother,"  the  truth  flashed 
upon  his  mind,  and  if  an  angel  had  stood  before  him  he 
could  not  have  been  more  astonished  than  he  was  on  the 
recognition  of  his  old  friend. 

The  two  Irishmen  were  put  to  work,  and  Col.  Berryman 
taking  the  Doctor's  arm,  returned  to  the  house,  where 
they  found  the  family  and  party  in  a  high  stage  of  won- 
derment over  Tom's  revelations.  Tom  had  communicated 
to  the  kitchen  his  knowledge  of  Mr.  Anderson's  status  as 
a  laboring  man,  and  the  kitchen  hands  all  felt  the  disgrace 
of  having  one  of  the  poor  white  trash  sit  down  with  the 
ladies  and  gentlemen  at  massa's  own  table. 

Ti)ere  was  a  general  protest  among  the  blacks  against 
the  strange  proceeding,  and  the  elder  females  vowed  they 
would  "go  back  to  Ole  Vaginny  agin  if  dem  poceedins 
was  gwine  to  be  carried  on  'heah." 

Mrs.  Berryman  heard  of  the  commotion  and  summoned 
Tom  to  explain.  Tom  entered  the  sitting-room,  looking 
somewhat  nervous.  The  fact  that  Mr.  Anderson  had  given 
him  a  quarter  for  blacking  his  boots  made  him  suspicious 
that  the  stranger  might  possibly  be  a  gentleman  after  all, 
and  that  he  had  pitched  the  straw  just  for  amusement. 
Major  J.  noticed  his  agitation,  and,  by  way  of  restoring  his 
equanimity,  said,  in  a  tone  of  muffled  emphasis,  "Tom!  if 
I  catch  you  telling  any  lies  about  Mr.  Anderson,  I  will  skin 


40  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

you  to  the  lowest  fibre  of  your  tendo  Archilles,  and  will 
have  your  hide  tanned  and  made  into  a  drum  for  Mr. 
Anderson's  children  to  play  on,  when  he  goes  back  to 
Ohio."  Tom,  trembling,  told  what  he  knew,  which  com- 
ported with  his  statement  in  the  kitchen. 

The  company  were  durafounded ;  that  Mr.  Anderson 
should  be  a  common  laborer  was  simply  preposterous,  and 
yet,  there  stood  Tom  willing  to  swear  that  he  had  seen 
him  working  with  the  threshers  the  best  part  of  the  fore- 
noon. At  this  moment  Col.  Berryman  and  the  Doctor 
were  seen  entering  by  the  front  gate,  chatting  in  an  ani- 
mated and  familiar  way;  when  they  entered,  the  company 
were  all  on  their  feet  eager  for  an  explanation.  "The 
Bev.  Dr.  Anderson "  was  now  introduced,  not  so  sum- 
marily as  his  namesake  had  been  an  hour  before.  It  was 
the  Colonel's  hope  that  the  company  might  not  identify 
his  reverend  friend  with  the  stranger  who  had  dined  with 
them.  He  was  not  aware  the  stranger  had  attracted  any 
attention  at  the  table.  "If  they  find  out  what  a  stupid 
blunder  I  have  made,  I  shall  never  hear  the  end  of  it," 
said  he,  and  begged  the  Doctor  not  to  betray  him.  The 
Doctor  promised  to  be  solemn  and  passive,  but  it  was  of 
no  avail.  The  exposure  of  his  feeble  pretence  only  added 
to  his  wretchedness,  and  the  unfortunate  Colonel  was 
doomed  to  bear  the  slings  and  arrows  of  pitiless  friends 
for  many  a  long  day. 

The  Doctor's  adventure  was  a  success.  He  remained 
over  the  Sabbath,  and  occupied  the  pulpit  of  the  pastor 
loci.     Mrs.  Berryman  requested  him  to  preach  on  Hospi- 


CENTRAL  CHURCH.  41 

tality,  and  he  selected  for  his  text  the  scripture  account 
of  Abraham's  treatment  of  strangers.  Much  to  Colonel 
Berryman's  relief,  he  avoided  a  comparison  between  the 
conduct  of  Abraham  and  the  Blue  Grass  patriarch. 

THE  CENTRAL  CHURCH. 

During  the  interval  between  the  outgoing  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Barnes  and  the  incoming  of  Dr.  Anderson,  a  small 
band  of  Christians  who  were  specially  devoted  to  Mr. 
Barnes,  determined  to  leave  the  First  Church,  and  form 
the  "  Central  Church,"  which  was  located  on  St.  Clair 
Street,  near  where  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church  now 
stands.  Elder  Henry  L.  Brown  and  Samuel  McPherson 
were  the  leaders  in  this  movement. 

After  securing  a  house  and  an  organization,  they  for- 
warded a  call  to  Mr.  Barnes  to  become  their  pastor.  Mr. 
Barnes  declined  the  call,  but  consented  to  occupy  their 
pulpit  for  a  short  season.  On  his  arrival  he  found  the 
new  societ}^  wrangling  over  a  musical  instrument,  that  a 
majority  of  the  members  had  introduced  with  a  choir. 
The  two  elders  were  divided  on  the  instrument,  and  Mr. 
Barnes'  influence  was  thrown  into  the  scale  against  it,  but 
without  avail.  The  instrument  triumphed  and  led  to  the 
disorganization  of  the  Church,  about  a  year  after  its  forma- 
tion. Dr.  Anderson  foresaw  the  catastrophe  and  piloted 
the  foundering  colonists  back  to  their  old  harbor,  on  the 
corner  of  Second  and  Ludlow  Streets. 
0 


42  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

REV.  PIIINEAS  D.  GURLEY'S  PASTORATE. 

The  Rev.  Phineas  D.  Gurley,  then  of  Indianapolis,  was 
next  elected  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Church.  The 
call  on  the  part  of  the  congregation  was  unanimous,  and 
Dr.  Gurley  accepted  it  promptly,  and  entered  on  his  minis- 
terial duties  at  Dayton,  on  the  6th  of  November,  1849. 
He  continued  to  minister  with  much  zeal  and  success  until 
Janitar}',  1854,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  F  Street, 
now  New  York  Avenue  Church,  of  Washington,  District 
of  Columbia,  where,  by  the  power  of  his  preaching,  the 
purity  of  his  life,  and  his  great  practical  wisdom,  he  ac- 
quired vast  influence,  not  only  in  his  immediate  Held  of 
pastoral  labor,  and  in  the  general  councils  of  the  Church, 
but  also  in  the  atfairs  of  the  government.  He  was  the 
pastor  and  intimate  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  dur- 
ing the  dark  and  trying  period  of  our  civil  war,  his  prayers 
and  advice  were  often  solicited  by  the  President. 

He  died  in  Washington,  on  the  30th  of  September,  1868, 
after  suflering  a  short  period  from  malignant  disease  of 
the  stomach. 

In  the  second  year  of  Dr.  Gurley's  pastorate,  the  senti- 
ment in  favor  of  establishing  a  mission  church  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  city  (which  originated  in  the  last  year  of 
Dr.  Anderson's  ministry),  was  revived.  The  Church  fa- 
vored the  outgoing  of  a  large  colony  in  order  to  strengthen 
the  enterprise,  but  when  the  set  time  arrived  for  entering 
on  the  w^ork,  only  twenty-three  communicants  were  willing 


hev.  peine  as  d.  gurley's  pastorate.  43 

to  leave  the  old  hive — Joseph  Baruett,  John  F.  Edgar,  and 
John  Morehouse  taking  the  lead,  and  organizing  what  is 
now  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city,  commonly 
called  the  "Park  Church." 

Notwithstanding  this  new  center  of  Presbyterial  attrac- 
tion the  average  annual  accession  of  communicants  under 
Dr.  Gurley,  was  greater  than  that  of  any  other  pastorate 
in  the  history  of  the  First  Church. 

The  correspondence  between  Dr.  Gurley  and  the  congre- 
gation, in  reference  to  his  proposed  resignation,  is  worthy 
of  a  place  in  this  history.  It  reveals  something  of  his 
deep  affection  for  the  people  of  his  charge,  and  their  warm 
attachment  and  devotion  to  him. 

This  relationship  is  most  interesting,  and  happy  must 
the  church  ever  be,  wherein  the  same  beautiful  spirit  ot 
harmony  and  love  prevails. 

Dr.  Gurley  had  been  but  four  years  in  Dayton,  and 
during  that  time  the  evidence  of  divine  favor  on  his 
ministerial  labors  could  not  be  doubted.  His  influence 
and  usefulness  were  daily  increasing.  When  the  call  came 
to  him  from  Washington,  he  could  not  believe  it  was  the 
Master's  will  that  he  should  abandon  his  present  field. 
After  careful  and  serious  deliberation  he  told  his  people 
he  would  decline  the  call,  but  before  his  declination  was 
mailed,  he  received  another  communication  from  Wash- 
ington. Not  a  louder  call,  in  the  vulgar  acceptation  of 
that  phrase,  but  a  call  of  distress,  from  a  weak  church 
struggling  against  the  tide  of  error  and  ungodliness  then 
prevailing  at  the  national  capital. 


44  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

The  following  is  Dr.  Gurley's  letter  of  resignation  with 
the  reply  of  the  congregation: 

*'  To  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.,  of  Dayton: 

^'-My  Beloved  People:  One  of  the  hardest  duties  of  my 
life  18  now  before  me.  May  God  help  me  to  discharge  it 
in  his  fear  and  for  his  glory.  On  last  Sabbath  morning  I 
told  you  that  the  question,  Shall  I  go  to  Washington  to 
labor  for  Christ  or  shall  I  remain  in  Dayton?  had  been 
to  me  the  most  serious  and  perplexing  question  of  personal 
duty  I  had  ever  been  called  to  consider.  I  also  told  you 
that,  after  long  and  anxious  deliberation,  I  had  concluded 
to  remain  in  Dayton.  With  the  light  I  then  had  perhaps 
that  conclusion  was  correct;  perhaps  it  was  not.  I  an- 
nounced it  with  many  misgivings,  known  only  to  myself 
and  to  God,  and  after  the  announcement,  through  the 
remainder  of  the  Sabbath,  those  misgivings  increased  with 
the  lapse  of  time  and  I  became  unhappy.  I  felt  that  per- 
haps I  had  refused  to  hear  the  voice  and  follow  the  leading 
of  Providence.  On  the  following  Monday  and  Tuesday, 
before  I  had  written  the  declination  which  I  had  intended 
to  send  to  the  F  Street  Church,  I  received  unexpected 
communications  from  Washington,  so  remarkable  in  their 
character,  so  strong  in  their  arguments  and  appeals,  and 
so  significant  as  indications  of  the  will  of  God,  that  I 
felt  it  to  be  my  solemn  duty  to  reconsider  the  whole  ques- 
tion—  to  look  at  it  anew  and  very  carefully,  that  I  might 
know  of  a  truth  what  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  and 
King  of  Zion  would  have  me  to  do.     I  have  reconsidered 


REV.  PHINEAS  D.  OURLEY'S  PASTORATE.  45 

the  question;  I  have  looked  at  it  anew  with  earnest, 
prayerful  reflection ;  and  in  so  doing.I  have  come  clearly 
to  the  conclusion  that  I  must  reverse  my  decision. 

"That  God  has  called  me  to  go  and  labor  for  his  cause 
and  glory  in  Washington  City  I  can  no  longer  doubt  for 
a  moment.     The  case  is  clear ;    the  evidence  to  my  own 
mind  is  clear  and  irresistible.     I  must  yield  to  it  or  do 
violence  to   my  conscience  and  sin  against   my   God.     1 
must  go  or   be   unhappy.     This  decision  is  final,  and,  in 
making  it,  I  find  peace.     I  believe  it  is  the  peace  which 
God  gives  to  his  people,  when,  at  the  cost  of  many  sacri- 
lices  and  in  the  face  of  many  difficulties  and  dangers,  they 
resolve  to  do  their  duty.     And,  now,  my  beloved  people, 
you  must  acquiesce  in  this  decision  and  say  to  me,  '  Go, 
and  the  Lord  be  with  thee.'    You  may  think  me  mistaken- 
greatly,  strangely  mistaken,  but  I  beseech  you,  lay  not  a 
single  obstacle  in  my  way.     Trouble  me  not  with  unavail- 
ing arguments  and  entreaties,  deal  gently  with  one  whose 
heart  will  bleed  and  quiver  with  agony  as  he  leaves  you  ; 
and  while  he  goes  in  the  name  of  Jesus  to  occupy  a  most 
responsible  and  difficult  position  for  his  glory,  follow  him 
with   your    sympathies,  your    kindest   wishes,    and    your 
prayers. 

"My  pastoral  connection  with  you  has  been  pleasant, 
exceedingly  pleasant,  I  have  loved  you  all  and  loved  you 
well,  and  you  have  given  me  love  and  kindness  in  return. 
"  In  all  my  ministry  among  you  I  have  aimed  at  your 
highest  spiritual  welfare,  and,  so  far  as  my  labors  have  been 
successful,  to  God  be  all  the  praise.     I  shall  leave  you  in 


46  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

the  confidence  that  the  'Bishop  of  your  souls'  who  has 
cared  and  provided  for  you  heretofore,  will  not  forsake 
you  now.  Under  shepherds  may  leave  you  ;  but  the  great 
and  good  Shepherd  will  be  with  you  to  the  end.  Trust 
in  him;  cleave  to  him,  as  your  nearest,  truest,  mightiest 
helper,  and  he  will  comfort  your  hearts,  supply  your  need 
and  do  for  you  'exceeding  abundantly  above  all  you  ask 
or  think.' 

"  Unto  him  be  glory  in  the  Church  throughout  all  ages, 
world  without  end.     Amen." 

A  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  called,  at  which  the 
following  response  was  made  to  Dr.  Gurley's  resignation : 

"  Whereas,  In  the  Providence  of  God,  a  call  from  the 
F  Street  Presbyterian  Church  of  Washington  City,  has 
been  received  by  our  beloved  pastor,  and  he  has  felt  it  his 
duty  to  look  at  the  subject  and  proposition  for  his  removal 
very  carefully,  that  he  might  know  of  a  truth  what  the 
Great  Head  of  the  Church  would  have  him  do,  and,  with 
much  prayer  and  reflection,  he  is  very  clear  in  his  convic- 
tions of  duty,  that  God  has  called  him  to  go  and  labor  in  his 
cause  and  glory  in  Washington  City ;  and  therefore  it  was 
that  he  presented  the  communication  read  in  our  hearing, 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rossiter,  on  Sabbath  morning,  December 
25th,  1853,  asking  the  dissolution  of  his  pastoral  relations 
with  us. 

"And  now,  in  view  of  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  and 
notwithstanding  our  own  feelings  rise  up  against  it,  and 
we  are  strongly  opposed  to  our  pastors  decision,  yet  we 


REV.  PHINEAS  D.  GURLEY'S  PASTORATE.  47 

are  constrained  to  acknowledge  onr  firm  conviction  that 
true  love  and  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ  has  led  him, 
at  the  cost  of  many  sacrifices,  and  in  the  face  of  many 
dangers  and  difficulties,  to  do  his  duty  in  this  matter,  as 
impressed  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  And,  therefore,  although 
we  do  truly  feel  that  he  is  mistaken,  strangely  mistaken, 
yet  we  will  not  lay  any  obstacle  in  his  wa}^,  nor  trouble 
him  with  unavailing  arguments  and  entreaties,  but  firmly 
trusting  that  he  goes  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  to  occupy  a 
most  responsible  and  difficult  position  for  Christ's  glory, 
we  will  continue  to  respect,  honor,  and  love  him,  and 
will  follow  him  with  our  sympathies,  kindest  wishes,  and 
prayers,  and  say, 'Go,  and  the  Lord  be  with  thee'  and 
thy  family. 

"Our  thanks  are  due  to  our  heavenly  Father  for  the 
directing  influence  of  his  spirit,  when  leading  us  to  seek 
the  ministerial  labor  of  our  beloved  pastor,  friend,  and 
Christian  brother  (the  Rev.  Phineas  D.  Gurley),  and  we 
here  record  the  great  goodness  of  God,  in  following  with 
his  continued  blessing  the  relation  of  pastor  and  people, 
so  that  our  friendship,  respect,  and  love  has  been  gaining 
strength  with  the  successive  dajs  of  his  ministry.  And 
we  most  heartily  agree  in  testifying  that  in  all  his  preach- 
ing and  intercourse  with  us,  he  has  aimed  at  our  highest 
spiritual  welfare,  and  under  the  divine  blessing  has  been 
successful  in  winning  souls  to  Christ,  and  building  up  the 
people  of  God  in  the  most  holy  faith;  for  all  of  which  we 
unite  with  him  in  giving  God  the  praise. 


48  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

"We  consider  it  not  only  proper  but  a  duty  to  publicly 
record  our  tbanks  to  the  giver  of  every  blessing,  for  his 
kindness  in  so  directing  all  our  social  and  Christian  inter- 
course with  our  pastor's  family,  that  it  may  truly  be  said, 
we  love  them,  and  earnestly  pray  that  God's  choicest 
blessings  may  follow  and  abide  with  them.  With  these 
feelings,  therefore,  be  it 

'■^Besolved,  That  it  is  only  the  kindest  feelings  of  duty 
towards  our  beloved  pastor,  and  of  Christian  submission 
to  God's  providence  that  lead  us  to  acquiesce  in  his  appli- 
cation to  the  Pr^sbyter}^  for  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral 
relation. 

^^Mesolved,  That  we  deeply  feel  this  resignation  to  be  our 
loss  and  humbly  pray  it  may  be  his  gain,  by  extending  his 
usefulness  in  advancing  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom  on  the  earth." 

REV.  J.  H.  BROOKES'  PASTORATE. 

Some  two  months  after  Dr.  Guriey's  resignation,  the 
Rev.  James  H.  Brookes  was  elected  to  succeed  him,  and 
was  ordained  and  installed  on  the  20th  of  April,  1854. 
Though  a  young  man,  and  a  recent  graduate  of  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary,  Mr.  Brookes  proved  himself  a 
worthy  follower  of  the  great  and  good  man  who  preceded 
him.  Nature  had  endowed  Mr.  Brookes  with  gifts  far 
above  the  common  allotment.  To  a  commanding  and 
graceful  person  was  added  a  mind  of  extraordinary  capacity, 
and  well-balanced  faculties,  together  with  a  disposition  at 


REV.  J.  H.  BROOKES'  PASTORATE.  49 

once  frank,  generous,  and  enthusiastic.  He  soon  acquired 
distinction  as  a  public  speaker,  for  in  addition  to  the  usual 
attributes  of  the  orator,  he  enjoyed  the  advantage  of  that 
mysterious  element  commonly  called  magnetism,  which 
comes  not  by  hard  study  or  academic  training,  but  in  con- 
sequence of  its  extreme  rarity,  is  generally  looked  upon  as 
a  special  gift  of  Providence. 

These  qualities,  combined  with  his  burning  zeal  for  the 
salvation  of  men,  soon  won  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and 
the  Church  prospered  abundantly  under  his  ministry. 

In  November,  1856,  a  new  colony  went  out  uuder  the 
lead  of  William  King  Sr.,  Herbert  S.  Williams,  and  David 
Osborn,  and  organized  the  "  Miami  City  Church,"  now 
the  "Fourth  Presbyterian  Church,"  of  Dayton.  Notwith- 
standing this  depletion,  it  became  necessary  soon  after  to 
enlarge  the  capacity  of  the  old  church,  and  to  this  end 
several  congregational  meetings  were  held,  and  committees 
appointed  to  obtain  subscriptions  and  report  a  plan  for 
enlargement. 

The  following  minute  is  from  the  record  of  a  meeting  of 
the  congregation,  held  on  the  16th  day  of  January,  1857  : 

'■'■Resolved.,  That  the  plan  of  the  committee  be  adopted, 
with  the  modification :  that  20  feet  of  the  present  building 
be  taken  down,  and  an  addition  made  of  40  to  50  feet 
wide,  by  80  to  90  feet  deep,  in  a  cruciform  manner,  with 
projections,  and  such  other  modifications  as  may  be  recom- 
mended by  a  competent  architect,  and  approved  by  the 
Building  Committee,   so   as  to   preserve  beauty  and  bar- 


50  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

mony,  in  the  general  proportions  and  finish  of  the  build- 
ing when  completed ;  and  that,  after  these  modifications 
are  determined  upon,  and  the  plans  perfected,  it  be  pre- 
sented by  the  committee  to  the  trustees  for  their  approval, 
and  if  approved  and  adopted  by  the  trustees,  that  the  com- 
miftee  on  behalf  of  this  meeting  request  them  to  invite 
proposals  and  contract  for  the  immediate  construction  of 
the  addition  proposed." 

Before  any  further  measures  were  taken  in  pursuance  of 
the  forgoing  resolution,  it  was  found  that  the  members  of 
the  congregation  were  not  in  full  accord,  as  to  the  charac- 
ter of  the  improvement  recommended  by  the  architect. 
During  the  suspense  that  ensued  upon  this  disagreement, 
Mr.  Brookes  received  a  call  from  the  First  Church,  of  St. 
Louis,  and,  after  some  deliberation,  announced  his  decision 
to  accept  it;  at  the  same  time,  asking  the  congregation  to 
unite  with  him  in  a  request  to  Presbytery  to  dissolve  the 
pastoral  relation  ;  which  request  was  reluctantly  assented  to. 

A  tew  months  prior  to  this  action,  Mr.  Brookes  had 
made  a  similar  request,  in  order  to  accept  a  call  from  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Louisville.  The  Dayton 
Church,  by  its  delegates  appeared  before  Presbytery,  and 
opposed  their  pastor's  removal  strenuously  and  success- 
fully. In  a  series  of  resolutions,  the  congregation  set  forth 
the  eminent  fitness  of  Mr.  Brookes  to  labor  in  his  present 
field,  showed  how  richly  his  labors  had  been  blessed,  how 
much  his  usefulness  was  increasing,  and  how  perfectly  the 
people  of  his  charge  were  united  in  their  anxiety  to  enjoy 


r)R.  THOMAS  E.  THOMAS'  PASTORATE.  51 

a  continuance  of  his  ministry.  One  of  the  resolutions  con- 
tains the  following  deliverance:  *  ^  *  "  We  further 
believe  it  is  the  duty  of  the  churches,  everywhere,  to  ab- 
stain from  the  too-common  practice  of  disturbing  each 
other's  iiarmony,  by  undue  interference  with  the  pastoral 
relation."' 

Mr.  Brookes  preached  his  farewell  sermon,  in  the  Frist 
Church,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1858. 

DK.  THOMAS  E.  THOMAS"  rASTOKATE. 

On  the  9th  of  March,  1858,  a  unanimous  call  was  given 
to  the  Kev.  Thomas  E.  Thomas,  then  at  New  Albany, 
Indiana,  and  on  the  12th  of  April  he  began  his  pastoral 
work  in  the  First  Church.  The  congregation  and  people 
of  Dayton  had  much  reason  to  congratulate  themselves  on 
the  acquisition  of  such  a  man  at  this  particular  juncture. 
The  agitation  of  the  slavery  question  was  threatening  not 
only  the  disruption  of  the  States  but  of  the  churches  also. 
The  people  of  tiie  South  discovered  that  the  anti-slavery 
sentiment  of  the  North  had  crystalized  in  opposition  to 
the  further  extension  of  slavery  in  the  territory  of  the 
United  States.  Kansas  had  been  saved  to  freedom,  aftei-  a 
fierce  and  bloody  struggle,  in  which,  the  slave  power  was 
aided  by  the  military  power  of  the  government,  under 
President  Buchanan's   administration. 

Already  the  dark  clouds  of  treason  were  visible  in  the 
political  horizon,  and  wise  men  who  comprehended  the 
true  nature  of  the  issues  involved,  trembled  for  the  coun- 


52  FTRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

try's  safety.  Dr.  Thomas,  as  a  citizen,  had  always  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  public  aftairs,  and  while  he  was  regarded 
a  prince  among  preachers  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  he  was  recognized  far  and  wide  as  the  fear- 
less and  uncompromising  champion  of  human  liberty. 

In  youth  his  manly  sympathies  were  kindled  in  behalf 
of  our  southern  bondmen,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four, 
he  threw  himself  into  the  anti-slavery  struggle  with  all 
the  enthusiasm  of  his  ardent  temperament.  The  time 
will  come,  when  the  attitude  assumed  by  the  American 
churches  in  relation  to  slavery,  in  the  nineteenth  century, 
will  be  deemed  incredible.  With  comparatively  few  excep- 
tions, the  practice  of  every  ecclesiastical  body  in  the  United 
States  before  1860,  was  conservative  of  American  slavery. 
The  doors  of  almost  every  prominent  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  land  were  barred  against  those  preachers  who  de- 
nounced slaveholding  as  sinful,  and  who  advocated  its 
abolition.  It  was  degrading  and  dangerous  to  be  an  active 
abolitionist,  even  in  many  cities  and  communities  of  the 
free  States.  Dr.  Thomas  was  treated  to  a  large  share  of 
the  obloquy  and  persecution  of  the  times,  but  his  zeal  in 
the  cause  never  flagged,  nor  did  his  courage  faulter  until 
the  battle  of  freedom  was  ended,  and  the  victory  won. 

He  saw  the  hand  of  God  in  the  great  convulsion  of 
1861,  and  when  the  first  rebel  gun  opened  its  fire  on  Sum- 
ter, he  received  the  report  with  joy,  and  said  to  his  friends, 
"That  rebel  spark  will  kindle  a  fire  that  shall  burn  till  our 
land  is  purified  from  the  sin  and  stain  of  slavery." 


DR.   THOMAS  E.  THOMAS'  PASTORATE.  53 

During  the  years  of  bloody  conflict  that  ensued,  Dr. 
Thomas  was  conspicuous  in  his  efforts  to  uphold  and 
strengthen  the  arm  of  the  government.  He  opposed  all 
faint-hearted  measures  and  corrupt  compromises  for  the 
sake  of  peace.  In  private  and  social  circles,  in  public 
meetings  with  his  fellow-citizens,  in  the  general  assemblies 
of  the  Church,  and  in  the  camp  of  the  soldiers,  he  main- 
tained the  righteousness  of  the  national  cause,  and  urged 
a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  until  every  rebel  surren- 
dered his  arms,  and  every  foot  of  American  soil  was  conse- 
crated to  liberty. 

The  First  Church  prospered  under  Dr.  Thomas'  minis- 
try, which  continued  for  a  period  of  thirteen  years. 

The  excitement  incident  to  our  civil  war  was  prejudicial 
to  the  spiritual  interests  of  all  the  churches,  and  the  First 
Church  shared  in  this  general  depression.  When  the  war 
closed  the  Church  revived,  and  the  year  of  1869  was 
signalized  by  the  largest  ingathering  that  had  ever  been 
recorded  in  a  single  year,  except  1844,  which  is  still  remem- 
bered as  the  year  of  the  great  revival  under  Dr.  Barnes. 

In  the  spring  of  1867  the  question  of  enlarging  the 
church  edifice  was  revived,  and  was  received  with  favor 
by  the  people  generally.  The  following  extract,  copied 
from  the  records,  shows  the  action  held  at  an  adjourned 
meeting  of  the  congregation,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1867. 
Dr.  Thomas  occupied  the  chair,  and  Mr.  L.  Moore  was 
chosen  secretary.  The  moderator  reported  the  amount  of 
the  subscription  already  obtainad,  when,  "  On  motion  of 
Maj.  Gen.  McCook,  it  was  voted  to  reconsider  the  action 


54  FIRST  PRMSBYTEklAN  CBURCB 

of  the  last  meeting,  deciding  in  favor  of  the  enlargement 
and  improvement  of  the  present  building.  On  motion  of 
Mr.  H.  L.  Brown,  a  committee  of  ten  persons  was  chosen, 
whose  duty  it  should  be  to  determine  upon  the  character 
and  cost  of  the  improvement  or  new  building,  and  to  select 
three  of  their  number  as  a  Building  Committee  to  contract 
for  and  carry  out  the  design  thus  decided  upon. 

"The  following  persons  were  chosen  said  committee: 
T.  A.  Phillips,  H.  Stoddard  Jr.,  0.  McDermont,  Isaac 
Haas,  Jno.  G.  Lowe,  J.  W.  Stoddard,  T.  0.  Lowe,  J.  D. 
Phillips,  E,  A.  Parrott,  Samuel  Craighead.  On  motion, 
D.  W.  Stewart  and  C.  Wight  were  added  to  said  com- 
mittee.    On  motion  of  L.  Moore,  it  was  — 

^^Hesolved,  As  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  that  we  can  and 
ought  to  build  a  new  church  edifice,  that  we  pledge  our 
individual  and  united  efi^orts  to  each  other  and  to  the  com- 
mittee whom  we  have  chosen,  for  the  furtherance  of  this 
object."' 

Two  days  later,  the  Building  Committee  met,  and  was 
organized  by  the  election  of  Col.  Jno.  G.  Lowe,  chairman, 
and  D.  W.  Stewart,  secretary.  On  motion  of  Dr.  Thomas, 
Dr.  McDermont  and  H.  Stoddard  Jr.,  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  revise  and  enlarge  subscriptions.  On  motion, 
it  was  voted  that  Dr.  Thomas  be  considered  an  ex-officio 
member  of  all  committees.  Messrs.  T.  A.  Phillips,  T.  O. 
Lowe,  and  D.  W.  Stewart  were  appointed  a  committee  on 
plans  and  correspondence. 


DR.  THOMAS  E.   THOMAS'  PASTORATE.  55 

Messrs.  I.  Van  Ausdal  was  elected  to  till  the  vacancy  in 
the  Building  Committee,  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Mr. 
J.  D.  Phillips. 

At  subsequent  meetings  of  the  Building  Committee  reso- 
lutions were  adopted  to  the  following  effect : 

Appointing  H,  L.  Brown,  T.  A.  Phillips,  and  H.  Stod- 
dard Jr.,  a  committee  to  make  all  contracts  for  material 
and  work  for  the  new  edifice. 

Requiring  a  majority  of  the  whole  committee  of  twelve 
to  decide  upon  the  plans  for  the  new  building. 

Authorizing  Dr.  Thomas  to  visit  the  architect,  and  ob- 
tain all  necessary  information  in  regard  to  the  removal  of 
the  old,  and  the  erection  ot  the  new  building  —  the  material 
of  which  was  to  be  Dayton  limestone. 

On  the  6th  of  May  the  trustees  formally  authorized  the 
Building  Committee  to  remove  the  old  edilice,  and,  "  In 
place  thereof,  to  erect  such  a  building  as  will,  in  their 
opinion,  meet  the  demands  of  the  congregation."  At  the 
same  time  they  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  committee  all 
funds  that  had  been  or  might  hereafter  be  subscribed  for 
that  purpose. 

The  general  plan  of  the  new  building  was  prepared  by 
Dr.  Thomas,  and  its  details  with  drawings,  specilications, 
etc.,  by  Mr.  Blackburn,  a  Cleveland  architect.  Mr.  Isaac 
Haas,  one  of  the  elders  of  the  Church,  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  work,  and  executed  his  dithcult  task 
with  great  ability  and  success,  and  without  accepting  any 
eompensation.     Dr,  Thomas  was  vigilant  and  untiring  in 


56  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

watching  the  progress  of  the  work  at  every  step,  and  in  all 
its  departments.  On  entering  the  eastern  vestibule  of  the 
church,  a  handsome  memorial  tablet  engages  the  attention 
of  visitors.     On  this  tablet  is  inscribed  the  names  of 

THOMAS  EBENEZER  THOMAS,  D.  D., 

AND 

ISAAC  HAAS, 

With  a  brief  reference  to  the  character  and  work  of  each. 

The  renown  acquired  by  King  Solomon  and  his  royal 
assistant,  Hiram,  in  building  the  temple  at  Jerusalem,  has 
come  down  to  us  through  the  mists  of  twenty-eight  cen- 
turies, and  who  shall  question  the  propriety  of  transmitting 
the  names  of  Thomas  and  Haas  to  the  2:enerations  of 
Presbyterians  who  may  succeed  us  in  the  ages  to  come; 
and  who,  we  trust,  shall  continue  the  worship  of  their  fore-* 
fathers,  on  the  sacred  spot  where  our  beautiful  temple  now 
stands. 

The  people  of  Dayton  well  remember  the  quiet  energy, 
the  eagle  eye,  the  unremitting  vigilance  of  Mr,  Haas,  as  he 
watched  the  setting  of  every  stone  in  the  massive  edifice  ; 
they  also  remember  the  absorbing  interest  and  joyous 
enthusiasm  of  Dr.  Thomas  as  day  by  day,  for  months  and 
years,  he  stood  beside  the  workmen  witnessing  the  slow 
materialization  of  his  cherished  plans  for  a  house  of  wor- 
Bhip  to  the  Most  High;  and  who  that  is  familiar  witli  these 
facts,  can  hesitate  to  admit  that  the  names  of  these  gentle- 
men are  worthy  of  the  distinction  conferred  upon  them. 


DF.   THOMAS   E.   THOMAS'  PASTORATE.  57 

Indeed  the  famouB  inscription  on  Sir  Christopher  Wren's 
tahlet  in  St.  Panl's  Church,  London, 

"  Si  Mnnumentvm.  quaerLs  circumspice,'^  * 

Might,  with  some  propriety,  have  been  placed  under  their 
names. 

The  walls  and  roof  of  the  church  were  completed  in 
1869,  and  in  that  year  also  the  Sabbath-school  room  was 
finished  and  used  for  public  worship,  but,  owing  to  the 
general  depression  of  business  throughout  the  country, 
seven  years  elapsed  before  the  main  audience- room,  and 
other  parts  of  the  building,  were  completed. 

The  total  cost,  exclusive  of  the  materials  utilized  from 
the  old  church,  was  about  $100,000. 

In  making  their  final  building  report  to  the  congrega- 
tion, April  7th,  1874,  the  trustees  refer  to  their  endeavor 
to  complete  the  work  entrusted  to  them,  in  accordance 
wnth  the  designs  furnished  by  the  architect,  and  add,  "We 
may  now,  with  truth,  assert  that  the  First  'Presbyterian 
Congregation  possesses  the  noblest,  most  substantial,  and 
elegant  church  in  this  city." 

During  the  erection  of  the  church,  the  congregation,  by 
invitation,  w^orshiped  jointly,  for  a  period,  with  the  Baptist 
brethren,  in  their  large  church,  on  Main  Street,  and  the 
Christian  courtesies  of  those  brethren'are  hekl.  in  eniteful 
remembrance.  Subsequently  they  accepted  an  invitation 
to  worship  witii   the  people  of  the  Park  Presbyterian  con- 


If  you  seek  his  monunient,  Innk  nroiind  you. 

8 


58  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

gregation  until  their  own  house  would  be  ready  for  occu- 
pation, and  the  hospitality  of  the  Park  Church  brethren 
is  also  cordially  cherished. 

Before  the  completion  of  the  new  church,  Dr.  Thomas 
was  elected  to  a  professorship  in  Lane  Theological  Semi- 
nary, at  Cincinnati.  He  decided  to  accept  this  position, 
and  in  consequence  thereof,  his  pastoral  relation  with  the 
First  Church  was  dissolved  in  Jul}',  1871.  His  withdrawal 
was  deeply  deplored,  not  only  by  the  people  of  his  charge, 
but  by  the  citizens  of  Dayton  generall3^  His  vast  knowl- 
edge, great  oratorical  powers,  sound  judgment,  liberal 
spirit,  and  ready  sympathy  with  every  good  cause,  were 
qualities  which  won  the  admiration  of  all  who  knew  him, 
and  gave  him  a  prominence  in  deliberative  assemblies,  that 
few  men  attain. 

As  a  teacher  he  was  pre-eminent.  Though  an  active, 
sympathetic,  and  efficient  pastor,  his  greatness  was  re- 
vealed in  the  pulpit,  and  in  the  Bible  class.  Nature  and 
grace  had  specially  endowed  him  for  the  sacred  office. 


"  He  had  Elijah's  dignity  of  tone, 
And  all  the  love  of  the  beloved  John." 


When  Dr.  Thomas  left  Dayton  the  universal  feeling  of 
the  people  found  its  truest  utterance  in  the  words  of 
Hamlet : 

"Take  him  for  all  in  all, 
We  shall  not  look  upon  his  like  again;" 

And  the  existence  of  this  sentiment  was   doubtless'the 


REV.  JOHN  McVEY'S  PASTORATE.  59 

mam  cause  of  the  difficulty  which  the  First  Church  expe- 
rienced in  procuring  his  successor.  Several  calls  were 
given  and  rejected.  In  most  cases  there  was  reasonable 
ground  to  believe  that  the  calls  would  be  promptly  ac- 
cepted, and  their  rejection  occasioned  much  surprise, 
but,  in  course  of  time,  it  transpired  that  the  declining 
parties  were  distrustful  of  their  ability  to  till  Dr.  Thomas' 
place,  and  feared  to  put  themselves  in  contrast  with  tha^ 

great  man. 

On  the  2d  of  February,  1875,  Dr.  Thomas  died  at  Walnut 
Hills,  the  seat  of  Lane  Seminary,  and  his  body  reposes  in 
the  beautiful  cemetery  near  Dayton  — which  city  continues 
to  be  the  home  of  his  wife  and  children. 

REV.  JOHN   McVEY'S  PASTORATE. 

After  several  unsuccessful  efforts  to  secure  a  successor 
to  Dr.  Thomas,  the  Rev.  John  McVey,  of  Lebanon  Springs, 
New  York,  was  invited  to  visit  Dayton,  and  preach  to  the 
congregation.     He  came,  and  preached  so  acceptably  that 
a  call  to  the  pastorate  was  unanimously  made  out  and 
presented,  but   Mr.  McVey  declined  its  acceptance.     He 
thought  the  congregation  had   acted   with   precipitation, 
and  that  a  better  acquaintance  should  exist  mutually  be- 
fore entering    into  the    pastoral   relation.      He  expressed 
his  willingness  to  revisit  Dayton  within  a  reasonable  time, 
and  if,  after  the  second  visit,  the  congregation  should  see 
tit  to  renew  the  call,  it  would  probably  meet  his  accept- 
ance.    He  repeated  his  visit;   the  call  was  renewed   and 


60  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHUkCB 

accepted,  and  he  entered  upon  bis  pastoral  duties  on  the 
18th  of  September,  1872. 

Mr.  McVey  was  a  young  clergyman  of  high  character 
and  fine  culture.  He  was  imbued  with  a  deep  sense  of  the 
sacredness  of  his  office,  and,  in  his  intercourse  with  the 
world,  was  more  reserved  than  any  of  his  predecessors. 

The  Church  prospered  under  his  ministry  until  near  the 
close  of  his  second  year,  when  a  lurking  dissatisfaction 
developed  itself  and  was  found  to  be  so  general  that  the 
session  deemed  it  necessary  to  advise  him  of  the  fact.  At 
the  same  time  they  assured  him  of  their  inability  either 
to  state  the  cause  of  the  dissatisfaction,  or  to  remove  it, 
and  suggested  that  the  pastor's  resignation  was  the  only 
remedy  for  the  evil.  Mr.  McVey  complained  of  the 
session's  failure  to  advise  him  earlier  of  the  existing 
opposition,  and  of  their  neglect  to  take  proper  measures 
to  suppress  it,  in  its  incipiency. 

The  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  by  Presbytery,  on 
the  17th  of  October,  1874,  to  take  effect  on  the  last  Sab- 
batli  of  that  month.  In  connection  with  this  oflSicial  act, 
the  Presbytery,  on  hearing  Mr.  McVey's  statement  of  the 
case,  passed  resolutions  reflecting  on  the  congregation  for 
ill-usage  of  their  pastor,  at  the  same  time  appointing  a 
delegate  to  read  said  resolutions  from  the  pulpit  of  the 
First  Church  on  a  specified  Sabbath.  Against  this  action, 
the  Ciiurch  session  entered  a  strong  protest  in  its  minutes. 
The  session  avers  that  Presbytery  acted  unwisely  and  un- 
justly in  judging  the   case  of  Mr.  McVey  upon   ex  parte 


REV.  JOHN  McVEY'S  PASTORATE.  61 

testimony;  and  it  denies  the  correctness  of  certain  allega- 
tions cited  by  the  Presbytery  in  support  of  their  action. 


When  Mr.  McVey's  relation  to  the  Church  was  dis- 
solved, the  congregation  engaged  the  Rev.  George  A. 
Funkhouser,  a  professor  in  the  United  Brethren  Biblical 
Seminary,  of  Dayton,  to  preach  and  administer  the  ordi- 
nances. This  gentleman  continued  to  occupy  the  pulpit 
for  more  than  a  year,  an»l  his  ministration  proved  highly 
satisfactory  to  the  people. 


On  the  4th  of  June,  1876,  he  was  relieved  by  the  Kev. 
Benjamin  B.  Wartield,  who  had  just  completed  his  theo- 
logical course  at  Princeton. 

Mr.  Warfield  was  a  grandson  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Robert 
J.  Breckenridge,  and  being  warmly  recommended  by  the 
Princeton  Professors,  the  session  invited  him  to  occupy 
the  pulpit  for  a  few  months,  hoping  a  better  acquaintance 
would  lead  to  permanent  relations.  He  accepted  the  invi- 
tation, and  in  less  than  six  weeks  the  congregation  gave 
him  a  unanimous  call  to  become  their  pastor,  at  a  salary 
of  $2500  a  year. 

At  this  time  Mr.  Wartield  was  sufiering  from  disease  of 
the  throat,  and  decided  to  make  his  acceptance  of  the  call 
contingent  on  the  advice  of  his  medical  counselors.  They 
advised  him  to  abstain  from  preaching  for  several  months, 
and  the  call  was  declined. 


62  PIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

REV.   LEIGH    RICHMOND    SMITH'S    PASTORATE. 

In  July  of  the  same  year  the  Rev.  Leii^h  Richmond 
Smith,  of  Bordentown,  New  Jersey,  was  invited  to  come 
to  Dayton  in  the  course  of  his  summer  vacation,  and 
preach  in  the  First  Church  as  often  as  his  engagements 
would  permit.  He  came  the  following  month,  and  occu- 
pied the  pulpit  several  Sabbaths.  Mr.  Smith's  preaching 
made  so  favorable  an  impression  that,  on  the  •22d  of  Sep- 
tember, he  was  asked  to  return,  and  accept  an  engagement 
for  six  months.  He  consented,  and  began  his  ministry,  as 
stated  supply,  on  the  12th  of  isTovember,  1876. 

The  good  impression  made  on  his  first  visit  was  fully 
sustained,  and  before  the  expiration  of  his  engagement,  the 
congregation  gave  him  a  unanimous  call  to  the  pastorate, 
with  an  assured  stipend  of  $2500  a  year.  More  than  three 
years  have  elapsed  since  Mr.  Smith's  installation;  and  the 
large  accession  that  has  been  made  to  the  membership  of 
the  Church  in  that  period  is  a  good  testimony  of  his  faithful 
and  efficient  labors. 

In  view  of  Mr.  Smith's  youth,  and,  I  might  add,  his  extreme 
modesty,  the  author  will  not  touch  upon  the  subject  of  his 
rare  and  varied  endowments.  A  sketch  of  these  will  find 
a  more  fitting  place  in  the  opening  pages  of  the  next 
volume  of  this  history;  suffice  it  now  to  say,  that  if  a 
propitious  future  shall  fulfill  the  bright  promise  of  Mr. 
Smith's  present  spring-time,  he  will  be  entitled  to  take  a 
high  rank  in  that  galaxy  of  illustrious  men  who  have  pre- 
ceded him  in  the  pulpit  of  the  old  First  Church. 


CHURCH  MUSIC.  63 

CHUECH   MUSIC. 

For  a  long  period  the  question  of  Instrumental  Music 
in  public  worship  was  a  source  of  vexation  to  the  Pres- 
byterian family  in  Europe  and  America,  and  at  the  present 
time  it  continues  to  agitate  many  congregations  on  both 
sides  of  the  Atlantic. 

The  people  of  the  First  (3hurch  were  decidedly  averse 
to  the  use  of  instruments  in  public  worship,  until  about 
the  middle  of  the  present  century,  when  it  was  found  that 
the  sentiment  of  the  Church  had  undergone  a  material 
change  on  the  subject.  In  1859,  a  harmonium  was  brought 
into  the  choir  by  permission  of  the  session.  The  ofhcial 
records  clearly  show  that  the  session  had  misgivings  as  to 
the  result  of  the  innovation.  In  spite  of  the  instrument's 
virtuous  name  and  harmless  look,  a  majority  of  the  session 
feared  that,  like  the  wooden  horse  of  the  Geeks,  it  might 
become  an  engine  of  mischief,  and  to  guard  against  this 
danger  they  passed  the  following  resolutions: 

'■'■  Resolved,  The  conduct  of  sacred  song  in  the  church,  like 
every  other  part  of  the  public  worship,  is  properly  under 
the  care  of  the  Church  session,  and  subject  to  their  control. 

^'■Resolved,  The  leader  and  members  of  the  choir  shall 
be  appointed  by  the  session  from  time  to  time,  as  may  be 
necessary;  and  no  one  shall  be  connected  with  the  choir 
but  in  virtue  of  such  an  appointment. 

^"Resolved,  The  session  authorize  the  use  of  a  harmonium. 

^'Resolved,  The  choir  shall  confine  themselves  ordinarily 


64  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

to  such  music  as  shall  be  plain  and  familiar,  so  that  the 
whole  congregation  may  unite  in  singing. 

^^ Resolved,  The  instrument  shall  be  used  only  during  the 
singing  of  the  choir.  No  voluntaries,  preludes  or  inter- 
ludes being  permitted,  except  that  the  tirst  four  notes  of  a 
tune  may  be  played,  that  the  choir  and  congregation  may 
know  the  piece  to  bo  sung;  and,  if  the  choir  think  it 
needful  for  rest  and  harmony,  the  last  strain  of  a  tune  may 
be  repeated." 

As  more  than  one  half  the  members  of  the  present  con- 
gregation may  be  disposed  to  think  that  this  repugnance 
to  instrumental  music  was  due  to  a  want  of  taste  and 
musical  culture,  justice  to  the  memory  of  our  ancestors 
requires  a  statement  of  the  real  ground  of  their  opposition. 
They  held  — 

1.  That  the  use  of  a  musical  instrument  in  public  wor- 
ship was  at  variance  with  the  practice  and  traditions  of 
the  Church  of  Scotland,  of  which  the  American  Presby- 
terian Church  was  a  true  branch ; 

2.  That  it  was  one  of  the  corruptions  of  the  Roman 
Church,  which,  with  other  popish  practices,  was  renounced 
at  the  Reformation,  and  had  always  been  denounced  b}' 
the  Presbyterians  of  Scotland  and  Ireland,  as  well  as  by 
the  English  puritans; 

3.  That  neither  the  New  Testament  nor  any  authentic 
history,  contains  the  slightest  trace  of  evidence  that  instru- 
ments were  used  in  the  worship  of  God,  b}'  Christ  or  his 
apostles,  or  at  any  time  during  the  first  six  hundred  yeais 
of  the  Christian  Church; 


CHURCH  MUSIC.  65 

4.  That  instrumental  music  was  introduced  by  the  Pope 
of  Rome  in  the  year  666  A.  D.,  to  attract  people  to  the 
papal  services,  and  gratify  their  unsanctified  taste  for 
amusement,  and  if  Presbyterians,  unmindful  of  the  exam- 
ple of  Christ  and  his  apostles,  should  admit  into  their 
praise  service,  this  sensuous  element  of  Romish  worship? 
there  was  no  telling,  how  soon  other  corruptions  of  the 
Church  of  Rome  would  be  adopted. 

5.  They  further  held  that  the  use  of  instruments,  under 
the  Old  Testament  dispensation,  was  a  part  of  the  gorgeous 
temple  ceremonies,  that  it  w^as  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the 
priestly  order,  and  when  the  symbolical  ceremonies  passed 
away,  the  instruments  passed  with  them,  and  the  simple 
spiritual  worship  of  the  New  Testament  dispensation  was 
inaugurated. 

6.  They  believed  that  organs  tended  to  repress  congre- 
gational singing,  and  contributed  rather  to  the  entertain- 
ment of  the  young  and  fashionable,  than  to  the  glory 
of  God. 

7.  They  pointed  to  the  gradual  gravitation  towards 
Romanism  of  many  Protestant  Churches  that  had  yielded 
to  the  soft  seductions  of  a  theatrical  accompaniment  in 
their  service  of  praise. 

8.  They  declared  that  the  word  of  God  was  the  only 
safe  guide  in  the  matter.  In  it  there  was  the  example  of 
Christ  and  his  apostles  for  the  practice  of  vocal  praise, 
while  the  Pope  of  Rome  was  the  sole  authority  for  the 
use  of  organs. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  was  claimed  by  the  advocates  of 
•  9 


66  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

instrumental  music,  that  there  was  no  law  on  the  subject; 
that  neither  Christ  nor  the  apostles,  nor  the  reformers, 
nor  the  Westminster  divines,  ever  published  a  word  of  pro- 
hibition against  its  use.  They  admit  that  its  use  is  not 
mentioned  in  the  New  Testament,  or  in  the  early  history 
of  the  Church,  but  claim  that  this  omission  proves  nothing, 
since  no  mention  is  made  of  precentors  in  the  early  Christ- 
ian Church,  and  it  has  not  been  charged  that  the  use  of 
these  functionaries,  in  conducting  the  singing  during  public 
worship,  was  a  violation  of  the  letter  or  spirit  of  the  gospel. 

It  was  true,  they  said,  that  during  the  sitting  of  the 
Westminster  assembly  the  church  organs  were  removed 
from  St.  Paul's  and  St.  Peter's,  in  London,  but  this  was 
done  not  by  the  assembly,  but  by  a  commission  of  parlia- 
ment for  political  reasons.  The  men  of  the  assembly  were 
divided  themselves,  on  the  question  of  instrumental  music, 
and  wisely  forbore  to  pass  any  law  on  the  subject. 

They  claimed  further  that  God  had  ordained  the  use  of 
instruments  in  his  worship  under  the  old  dispensation,  and 
if  it  was  pleasing  to  him  then,  we  have  no  reason  to  think 
it  would  be  otherwise  now.  He  had  often  encouraged  his 
chosen  people  to  praise  him,  not  with  the  lips  only,  but 
with  the  harp,  the  lute,  the'  trumpet,  the  timbrel,  and  the 
psaltery.  Music  they  claimed  to  be  a  natural  help  to 
devotion.  It  had  no  typical  meaning,  and  should  not  be 
regarded  a  part  of  those  symbolic  ceremonies  that  passed 
away.  It  did  not  aid  worship  by  any  mystical  signilicance 
but  acted  by  a  proper  and  natural  operation.  God  had 
fitted  it  to  harmonize  with  the  human  voice,  and  his  sane- 


CHURCH  MUSIC.  67 

tion  of  it  in  sacred  song  was  sufficient  proof  of  its  value  in 
elevating  the  devotions  of  his  worshipers,  and  inspiring  a 
more  warm  and  joyful  expression  of  their  grateful  praise. 
They  claimed  that,  at  most,  it  was  an  open  question,  and 
that  the  members  of  every  congregation  should  have 
liberty  to  use  or  reject  instruments,  according  as  they 
prove  to  be  a  help  or  hindrance  to  edification ,  The  fol- 
lowing telling  points  occurred  in  the  course  of  a  public 
discussion  of  the  subject : 

In  arguing  the  question,  the  anti-instrumentalists  laid 
great  stress  on  the  "mutual  regard  due  to  the  rights  of 
conscience."  They  often  referred  to  their  friends  as  the 
conscientious  men  of  the  Church,  and  alleged  that  it  was 
not    a  matter  of   conscience   with    the  innovators   at   all. 

A  humorous  layman  replying,  to  this  argument,  said  he 
was  amused  at  the  equanimity  with  which  these  gentlemen 
and  their  adherents  monopolize  all  the  conscientious  con- 
victions of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  They  harp  on  the 
duty  of  "mutual  regard  for  the  rights  of  conscience,"  but 
when  it  is  boldly  avowed  by  them  that  all  the  conscience 
is  in  their  keeping,  what  becomes  of  the  mutuality  ?  Like 
Irish  reciprocity,  it  is  all  on  one  side.  Their  assumption 
reminded  him  of  a  story  of  Daniel  O'Connell,  "  who,  on  one 
of  his  trips  from  Dublin  to  London,  was  crossing  in  the 
Holyhead  steamer,  and  sitting  down  in  the  cabin  to  dinner, 
he  found  on  the  dish  before  him  a  very  fine  salmon  trout. 
The  day  being  Friday,  and  the  air  keen,  and  Dan  being 
sharp  set,  he  coolly  transferred  the  entire  delicacy  to  his 
own  plate,  apologetically  remarking,  with  a  comical  glance 


68  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

at  his  fellow  passengers,  "GentlemeD,  you  will  excuse  rae, 
as  this  is  a  fast  day  in  my  Church,"  A  stalwart  cattle 
drover  seated  opposite,  who  had  been  covetously  eyeing 
the  dainty,  too  modest  to  ask  for  a  portion,  was  dumb- 
founded for  a  moment  at  the  coohiess  of  the  procedure, 
but  recovering  his  wits,  he  seized  knife  and  fork,  stretched 
over  the  table,  severed  the  trout  in  two,  and  bearing  off 
much  the  larger  half,  exclaimed  reproachfully  to  O'Con- 
nell,  "Bad  manners  to  ye,  de  yez  think  nobody  has  a 
sowl  to  be  saved  but  yourself?"  "So,  sir;"  exclaimed 
the  speaker.  I  may  ask  these  gentlemen,  "Do  you  think 
nobody  has  a  conscience  to  protect  but  yourselves." 

Another  speaker,  who  favored  a  radical  improvement 
in  the  service  of  praise,  thought  it  well  to  relax  the  rigid 
custom  of  the  Scottish  Church.  He  related  the  case  of  a 
poor  fellow  who  was  once  a  singer  in  church,  and  had 
occasionally  served  as  a  precentor.  He  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  his  teeth,  and  he  could  not  sing.  He  was  told  to 
go  to  a  dentist.  On  going  back  to  the  church  with  a  false 
set  of  teeth,  there  was  a  theological  row.  He  was  told 
that  he  was  using  an  artilicial  instrument  and  could  not  be 
allowed  to  sing  there  any  more ! 

A  solemn  conservator  of  the  ancient  regime  rejoined, 
that  the  question  was  not  to  be  settled  by  sophistry  or 
anecdotes,  but  by  the  word  of  God.  The  anecdotes  related 
had  a  savor  of  salt  water  about  them,  and  had  better  be 
left  to  the  marines.  He  called  upon  his  opponents  to  pro- 
duce ONE    SCRIPTURE    PRECEDENT,  Or    a  THUS  SAITH    THE  JjORD, 

in  favor  of  usinsr  instruments  in  the  service  of  the  sane- 


DISCIPLINE.  69 

tuary.  If  they  could  not  do  this,  said  he,  they  had  better 
cease  their  agitation  and  give  the  Church  peace. 

This  challenge  was  promptly  met  by  a  gentleman  who 
rose  in  the  audience  with  a  Bible  in  his  hand,  and  said  : 
"This  sacred  book  contains  the  revelation  of  God  to  man. 
It  tells  us  of  a  heaveu  and  a  hell,  and  that,  in  the  latter 
place,  there  is  wailing  and  gnashing  of  teeth  ;  there  is  no 
instrumental  music  there !  In  the  former  place,  God's 
own  happy  home,  this  book  tells  us  there  are  angels  there? 
angels  with  harps  in  their  hands;  and  John  tells  us  in  the 
Revelations,  that  not  only  were  there  harps  in  heaven,  but 
that  the  angels  were  harping  on  harps."  These  arguments 
have  availed  to  such  a  degree,  that,  of  the  lifty-four  mil- 
lions of  Presbyterians  throughout  the  world,  about  four 
millions  only  continue  their  opposition  to  the  instrumental 
accompaniment. 

The  present  choir  of  the  First  Church  consists  of  four 
singers,  with  a  parlor  organ  accompaniment.  The  singers 
occupy  a  position  in  the  front  of  the  church,  and  face  the 
audience  while  singing.  Most  of  them  are  volunteers,  who 
take  no  pay  for  their  service.  The  cost  of  the  music  is 
therefore  very  light,  not  exceeding  $150  a  year. 

DISCIPLINE. 

To  err  is  human;  and  so  long  as  human  nature  is  subject 
to  its  present  infirmities,  so  long  will  the  exercise  of  disci- 
pline be  necessary  to  good  order,  in  Church  or  State.  The 
special  duty  of  Church  sessions  is  to  guard  the  purity  of 


70  FIRST  PRESBYTEittAN  CBVRCB 

the  Church  in  the  lives  of  its  members.  In  dealing  with 
offenses,  the  elders  possess  both  judiciary  and  executive 
power;  but  their  most  important  function  is  to  watch  over 
the  flock,  of  which  they  are  under-shepherds  —  guarding, 
counseling,  comforting,  instructing,  encouraging,  and  ad- 
monishing, as  circumstances  may  require.  The  penalties 
imposed  on  wrong-doers  are,  censure,  suspension  from  the 
communion  of  the  Church,  and  excommunication. 

The  writer  has  observed  but  one  case  of  excommunica- 
tion on  tke  Church  minutes  since  February  14th,  1817 — 
which  is  the  date  of  the  first  entry  in  the  session  book. 

A  good  many  were  suspended  from  the  communion  of 
the  Church,  on  account  of  specified  transgressions,  and 
of  these,  many  were  afterward  restored,  upon  satisfactory 
evidence  of  true  repentence  and  reformation, 

A  large  proportion  of  the  deUnquents  were  young  per- 
sons who  yielded  to  the  influence  of  improper  associates, 
and  the  temptations  of  city  life,  A  few  adults  had  become 
victims  of  intemperance,  and  only  a  small  number  were 
guilty  of  grosser  oflfenses. 

It  would  be  impossible  for  any  one  to  read  the  sessional 
proceedings,  without  being  profoundly  impressed  with  the 
wisdom,  moderation,  firmness,  and  patience  of  the  primi- 
tive elders.  At  their  second  meeting.  May,  1817,  a  charge 
of  slander  was  preferred  by  one  Church-member  against 
another.  The  elders  present  on  the  occasion  were — John 
Miller,  Henry  Robinson,  John  McKaig,  and  Wm.  King  — 
the  Rev.  Peter  Monfort  acting  moderator.  The  aggrieved 
brother  was  asked  whether  he  had  sought  reconciliation 


DISCIPLINE.  71 

in  accordance  with  the  scriptural  injunction — "If  thy 
brother  trespass  against  thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault 
between  you  and  him  alone,"  etc.  This  had  not  been  done, 
and  the  session  declined  to  consider  the  charge.  They 
counseled  complainant  to  exercise  a  spirit  of  brotherly  love, 
and  Christian  charity,  in  any  further  steps  he  might  take 
towards  reconciliation  or  redress.  At  a  subsequent  meet- 
ing of  the  session,  the  parties  in  controversy  appeared,  and 
informed  the  elders  that  their  difficulty  had  been  amicably 
settled. 

It  was  formerly  the  custom  of  the  elders,  and  may  be 
the  custom  at  present,  to  so  divide  the  |>arish  that  each  of 
the  elders  had  supervision  of  a  particular  precinct.  Regu- 
lar visits  were  made;  each  elder  visiting  at  least  one  of 
the  families  in  his  respective  charge  every  week,  and  offer- 
ing a  prayer  with  the  family,  "unless  prevented  by  peculiar 
circumstatices."  When  it  was  observed  that  a  member  was 
absent  from  public  worship  or  from  a  communion  service, 
he  would  receive  a  visit  from  one  of  the  elders  or  pastor 
in  the  course  of  "the  week,  and  if  the  absence  was  not  due 
to  some  providential  hindrance,  the  delinquent  was  affec- 
tionately admonished  of  the  danger  of  neglecting  his  duty, 
and  urged  to  a  more  careful  discharge  thereof.  Similar 
private  visits  were  made  to  persons  who  were  guilty  of  any 
immoral  practice.  The  elders  would  visit  refractory  cases 
alternately,  and,  if  these  private  efforts  failed  to  accomplish 
reform,  the  offender  was  cited  to  appear  before  the  session, 
who  prayed  with  and  for  him,  and  kindly  endeavored  to 
impress  him   with   a  due  senge  of  his  danger  and  duty. 


72  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Great  prudence  and  delicacy  were  practiced  in  dealing  with 
these  cases;  and  a  professed  desire  to  reform,  however 
faint,  was  sure  to  meet  with  long  snflering  and  encourage- 
ment. By  these  means  some  of  the  young  men  who  had 
lapsed  at  intervals,  eventually  became  consistent  and  exem- 
plary Christians. 

Dancing  and  attending  the  theatre  have  always  been 
a  source  of  grief  to  the  pastors  and  elders  of  the  First 
Church.  Like  the  use  of  instruments  in  praise  worship, 
the  practice  of  dancing  and  theatre-going  has  long  been 
deprecated,  by  the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  inconsistent 
with  a  Christian  profession. 

The  following  paper  was  prepared  by  the  session,  on  the 
26th  of  January,  1844,  and  read  to  the  congregation  on 
the  following  Sabbath,  after  sermon : 

"The  session  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Day- 
ton, feeling  in  some  degree  the  obligation  that  rests  upon 
them,  faithfully  to  warn  the  members  of  the  Church,  in  an 
affectionate  manner,  against  conformity  to  the  vanities  of 
a  world  lying  ia  wickedness,  against  its  allurements  and 
deadly  snares,  which,  in  our  view,  are  calculated  to  injure 
the  spiritual  interests  of  the  real  believer,  and  to  entice 
to  destruction  the  thoughtless,  and  unconverted,  would 
particularly  enjoin  upon  the  members  of  this  Church 
to  discountenance  the  worldly  amusement  of  dancing, 
seeing  that  our  Church,  in  her  highest  ecclesiastical  court, 
has  again  and  again  condemned  this  amusement,  in  all 
its  forms,  as  inconsistent  with  a  creditable  profession  of 
religion,  and  have  declared  it  a  censurable  practice,  and 


^  DISCIPLINE.  78 

seeing  that  it  is  Isiid  down  in  the  inspired  word,  as  a 
characteristic  of  the  wicked,  that  'they  send  forth  their 
little  ones  like  a  flock,  and  their  children  dance'  (Job 
21  :  11),  we  would  therefore  not  onl}'  entreat  our  brothers  - 
and  sisters  personally  to  refrain  from  this  worldly  folly, 
and  to  set  their  faces  as  a  flint  against  their  baptized  house- 
holds being  instructed  in  this  seductive  art,  but  also  to 
refuse  any  countenance  to  those  social  parties  where  it  is 
introduced,  as  we  believe  that  the  presence  of  the  pro- 
fessors of  religion  at  such  scenes  is  calculated  to  wound 
the  hearts  of  the  pious,  harden  the  impenitent,  and  greatly 
injare  the  cause  of  our  Redeemer." 

Notwithstanding  this  edict,  it  does  not  appear  from  the 
records,  that  any  dancing-member  was  ever  suspended 
from  Church  privileges,  on  account  of  this  indulgence;  and 
the  reason  no  doubt  is,  that  the  word  of  God  contains  no 
express  prohibition  against  it,  and  that  the  sin  of  dancing 
does  not  consist  in  the  mere  act,  but  in  the  evil  tendencies 
of  this  amusement,  when  indulged  in  promiscuously  and 
to  excess. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas,  referring  to  discipline  during  his 
pastorate,  says  (April,  1870): 

"It  ma}'  be  recorded  with  gratitude  to  the  Father  of 
Mercies,  that,  of  the  two  hundred  and  eighty  persons,  old 
and  young,  received  into  Church  fellowship,  during  the 
past  twelve  years,  for  whose  reception  your  pastor  is  re- 
sponsible, not  one  has  been  the  subject  of  discipline,  or  has 
deserved  the  censure  of  the  Church." 


74  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

CHURCH   FIRE. 

On  Tuesday,  August  16th,  1876,  about  1  o'clock  p.  m., 
our  house  of  worship  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire.  The 
entire  building  was  thereby  rendered  unfit  for  occupancy. 
The  fire  commenced  in  the  organ  and  consumed  it.  Thence 
it  extended  to  the  ceiling.  A  part  of  the  roof  was  de- 
stroyed, also  some  of  the  pulpit  furniture.  "  Tlie  pews  were 
much  injured  and  defaced.  The  upper  and  lower  rooms 
were  delusred  with  water.  The  damao^e  from  both  fire  ami 
water  was  so  great,  that  it  was  evident  we  could  not 
occupy  any  portion  of  the  building  for  several  weeks.  In 
this  dilemma  we  were  met  on  all  sides,  by  the  most  cor- 
dial sympathies  of  neighboring  Churches,  and  ofl'ers  of 
accommodation  for  all  our  regular  services  of  Church  and 
Sabbath-school.  The  first  regular  Baptist,  the  German 
Reformed,,  and  the  Third  Street  Presbyterian  Churches, 
were  especially  prompt  and  cordial  in  these  offers.  We 
united  with  the  latter  Church  in  the  regular  Sabbath 
services,  during  the  absence  from  town  of  their  pastor. 
Rev.  Leigh  Richmond  Smith,  whom  we  had  invited  to 
Dayton,  preached  in  their  pulpit  August  27th,  September 
3rd,  and  10th.  We  also  made  use  of  their  chapel  for  our 
Sunday-school,  for  several  weeks,  and  afterwards,  owing 
to  a  change  of  hour,  we  availed  ourselves  of  the  use,  kindly 
tendered  us  of  the  lecture-room  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church." 

The  expense  for  repairs  was  full}'  covered  by  insurance. 


SABBATH  SCHOOL.  75 

In  the  original  construction  of  the  house,  there  was  a 
serious  defect  in  the  acoustic  properties  of  the  main  audi- 
torium. In  repairing  the  building  after  the  fire,  the  ceiHng 
was  lowered  some  twenty  feet.  Since  the  change,  the 
voice  of  the  preacher  is  heard  with  much  greater  distinct- 
ness than  before. 

The  building,  including  the  Sabbath  school  room,  the 
ladies'  parlor,  infant  class  room,  library  and  pastor's  study 
are  heated  by  steam. 

Thorough  ventilation  is  provided  for,  by  flues  in  the 
walls,  extending  from  the  base  to  the  roof. 

THE   SABBATH   SCHOOL. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  First  Church  it  is  stated,  by 
Mr.  Brown,  that  "  In  March,  1817,  some  citizen  of  Dayton 
made  the  inquiry:  'Do  we  need  a  Sunday-school?'"  Im- 
mediately following  that  statement  Mr.  Brown  has  left  a 
blank  space  of  two  pages  in  his  manuscript,  indicating  his 
design  of  returning  to  the  subject,  but  as  death  prevented 
the  fulfillment  of  this  purpose,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
devote  a  chapter  to  the  early  Sabbath-richool  work  of  the 
Church. 

The  citizen  who  propounded  the  above  inquiry  niu8t 
have  been  surprised  with  its  speedy  and  remarkable  solu- 
tion, for,  according  to  our  best  information,  the  following 
month  witnessed  the  organization  of  a  flourishing  Sabbath- 
school  in  Dayton,  under  the  superintendence  of  Mrs.  Sarah 


76  FIRST  FRESBYTERIAN  CHURCU 

Bomberger,  and  a  record  of  the  scholars  for  1818,  shows 
an  aggregate  of  over  two  hundred  on  the  roll  for  that  year. 

Some  time  after  the  school  was  opened,  a  Board  of 
Directors  was  constituted,  and  consisted  of  the  following 
named  ladies:  Mrs.  Crane,  Mrs.  Ayres,  Mrs.  Pierce,  Mrs. 
Haynes,  and  Mrs.  Hannah  George,  who  was  secretary  of 
the  Board,  and  performed  her  duties  as  such,  in  a  very 
business-like  manner.  The  earliest  records  of  the  school, 
as  well  as  of  the  directors,  are  missing,  but  there  is  posi- 
tive evidence  that  Mrs.  Bomberger  held  the  position  of 
superintendent  for  nearly  twelve  years,  when  Mr.  David 
Osborn  was  elected  to  the  office. 

The  following  ladies  also  served  as  directors  until  March, 
1830,  when  a  new  Constitution  and  By-Laws  were  adopted, 
making  the  Dayton  school  an  auxiliary  to  the  "American 
Sunday-School  Union,"  yt2.;  Mrs.  Phillips,  Mrs.  Hildreth, 
Mrs.  Irwin,  Mrs.  Eliza  Smith. 

At  the  first  election  under  the  new  Constitution  the 
following  officers  were  chosen :  Mr.  David  Oaborn,  superin- 
tendent; Mrs.  Sarah  Bomberger,  assistant  superintendent; 
James  H.  Bacon,  secretary;  Dr.  John  Steele,  treasurer,  and 
John  W.  Van  Cleve,  librarian. 

Since  the  above  election  the  following  gentlemen  have 
tilled  the  office  of  superintendent  in  the  order  given: 
S.  M.  King,  Wm.  Davie,  E.  M.  Burr,  Mr.  Spence,  Ira  J. 
Fenn,  David  Osborn,  L.  F.  Chiflia,  H.  L.  Brown,  T.  J. 
Smith,  E.  A.  Moore,  Dr.  T.  E.  Thomas,  T.  O.  Lowe,  F.  Mul- 
ford,  (ieo.  L.  Phillips,  Jno.  H.  Thomas,  Chas.  Raymond, 
F.  Mulford. 


SABBATH  SCHOOL. 


77 


David  Osborn  was  the  first  male  superintendent.  He 
was  re-elected  nine  times,  and  labored  with  great  zeal 
and  efficiency,  not  only  in  the  Sabbath-school  of  his  own 
Church,  but  in  the  organization  of  similar  schools  in  the 
new  settlements  of  the  county. 

Dr.  Steele  held  the  office  of  treasurer  till  he  went  out 
with  the  New  School  colony  in  1839,  when  his  brother, 
Judge  Steele,  was  elected,  and  tilled  the  office  till  1841 — the 
year  of  his  death. 

The  other  subordinate  officers  of  the  Sabbath -school 
were  —  Mrs.  Putnam,  George  Bomberger,  Joseph  Davison, 
Mrs.  Broadwell,  Mrs.  Barnes,  Judge  Holt,  Mr,  Hughes, 
J.  W.  Dickson,  Isaac  Augenbach,  Mr.  Spinning. 

We  present  below  an  "Alphabetical  List  of  Scholars 
entered  at  Dayton  Sabbath-school,  commencing  August 
2d,  1818."  It  is  copied  from  the  "sere  and  yellow  leaf" 
of  Mrs.  Boraberger's  original  record,  and  will  no  doubt 
interest  a  lar^e  number  of  our  citizens : 


Ayres,  Isaac 
Ayres,  Stephen 
Armstrong,  John 
Andrews,  James 
Ayres,  Henry 
Anderson,  Thomas 
Alspach,  William 
Ayres,  David 
Anderson,  Henry 
Atkins,  John 
Anderson,  Lewis 


Bomberger,  William 
Bimm,  Jacob 
Bimm,  Isaac 
Brady,  Joseph 
Boogher,  Gideon 
Boogher,  Jessie 
Bowen,  Robert 
Boal,  Robert 
Boyer,  Tho.  W. 
Broadwell,  Eben 
Bacon,  Henry 


Berthards,  Thomas 
Brown,  Robert  P. 
Bomberger,  George 
Boyer,  Levi  J. 
Brown,  Thomas 
Boal,  William 
Belloe,  .John 
Belloe,  Peter 
Bowen,  David 
Bowen,  Nathaniel 
Broadwell,  Simeon 


78 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCB 


Boogher,  David 
Brown,  Patterson 
Brown,  Kirkum 
Brier,  George 
Bradson,  James 
Blake,  John 
Blodget,  William 
Brown,  Henry  L. 
Biers,  Joseph 
Bimm,  Joseph 
Boyer,  Eli 
Boyer,  Isaac  G. 
Brabham,  Charles 
Broadwell,  William 
Bourne,  William 
Boyer,  Abraham 
Boogher,  Samuel 
Broadwell,  Josiah 
Bruen,  David 
Baily,  John 
Cooper,  David  C. 
Collins,  James 
Carpenter,  Hopkins 
Crane,  William  E. 
Conover,  John 
Conover,  Obediah 
Conover  William 
Conley,  Fountain 
Curtner,  Henry 
Coleman,  Edward 
Clark,  Robert 


Cain,  Ingham 
Collins,  Gilbert 
Cooper,  Daniel  C. 
Conover,  Harvey 
Crane,  Wilbur 
Casner,  Joseph 
Conover,  Alex.  G. 
Clegg,  John 
Clegg,  James 
Clegg,  Joseph 
Clegg,  Samuel 
Conover,  Bachus  W. 
Collins,  Stephen 
Carney,  Absalom 
Clark,  George 
Crampton,  Joshua  E 
Casy,  Amos 
Carney,  Ansom 
Cutshaul,  Ely 
Carpenter,  Volin  C. 
Carpenter,  David 
Carpenter,  Wm.  D. 
Cain,  Stacey 
Duncan,  John 
Duncan,  David 
Davis,  Job 
Davis,  James 
Davis,  William 
Davis,  William 
Denny,  James 
Dicks,  George 


Davis,  James 
Davis,  Martin 
Davis,  Daniel 
Dolly,  Joseph 
Dolly,  William 
Deihl,  Joseph 
Dolly,  Samuel 
Darst,  Napoleon  B. 
Emmrick,  David 
Este,  David 
Eaglisfield,  William 
Emmons,  William 
Eaker,  William 
Eaker,  Charles 
Edgar,  John  F. 
Ensey,  Peter 
Folkerth,  Russel 
Folkerth,  Emil 
Fairchild,  Chris. 
Fairchild,  Eddy 
Fairchild,  Francis 
Fairchild,  Este 
Fuller,  William 
Folkerth,  Hamilton 
Fairchild,  Wilbur 
Fennemore,  Brazilla 
GoUiday,  Uri 
Hatfield,  George 
Hanna,  Joseph 
Hatfield,  Israel 
Hanna,  Amos  T. 
Hildreth,  Lewis 


SABBATH  SCHOOL. 


79 


Humphreyville,  W.  McCollum,  Ethan  S. 
HumphreyvilleJ.A.  McDean,  Thomas 
Huston,  Paul  Mussleman,  Samuel 

Houston,  William  P.  McKinley,  James 
Huntsinger,  Eli         Mc\Vhiney,William 
Hollan,  Horatio         McWhiney,  James 
Hamilton,  Thomas    McDennick,  James 
Hollingsworth,  A.     Morrison,  David 


Munday,  William 
Morgan,  William 
Minton,  William 
Minton,  Samuel 


Houston,  H.  G.  P. 

Henry,  John 

Hizer,  John 

Hatfield,  William 

Hawthorn,  William  Murry,  John 

Hollingsworth,  H.     Mount,  John 

Hudson,  Harrison 

Hollis,  George 

Hawthorn,  John 

Hudson,  Harrison 


Regans,  Jeptha 
Robins,  William 
Rue,  Nicholas 
Rue,  Taylor 


Henderson,  William  Rogers,  William 
Henderson,  Charles  Ryan,  Joseph 
Henderson,  William  Robbins,  Eli 
Hoon,  Jacob  Ryan,  William 

Myers,  Benjamin       Rhea,  Robert 
Michael,  Philip  Reed,  Adgate  M. 

Munday,  Benjamin   Ryan,  James 
Millar,  George  Reed,  David  L. 

Munday,  Madison      Rinebarger,  Adam 
McCoy,  Rice  Rossiter,  John 

McCoy,  Josephus       Rossiter,  Samuel 
McDennick,  James    Ritchie,  Matthias 
Mussleman,  Peter      Rouzer,  Samuel 


Ritchie,  Charles 
Richardson,  David 
Shaw,  Scott 
Schoonover,  A. 
Smith,  George  W. 
Simpson,  Stephen 
Shaw,  Nelson 
Shaw,  David 
Shaw,  John 
Scott,  Samuel 
Stibbins,  James 
Shaw,  Andrew 
Smith,  John  D. 
Shaw,  Nicholas 
Spinning,  Joel 
Shaw,  Addison 
Sullivan,  William 
Stansifer,  Ephraim 
Shoup,  Joel 
Sullivan,  Nicholas 
Smith,  Jacob 
Sullivan,  Joseph 
Stansifer,  Americus 
Shaw,  Westley 
Sullivan,  Absalom 
Sullivan,  Thomas 
Sullivan,  John 
Stansifer,  Francis 
Snider,  George 
Shearer,  George 
Sullivan,  Lorenso 


'^ 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


Stutsman,  Peter 
Smith,  Stephen 
Smith,  John  C. 


Shaw,  Elihu 
Stutsman,  Grove 
Steele,  Robert 


Simpson,  Benjamin 
Scott,  William 
Scott,  David 


Ayres,  Elizabeth 
Ayres,  Julia  Ann 
Arnold,  Kitty 
Ayres,  Mary 
Alspach,  Harriet 
Boal,  Martha 
Bach  us,  Harriet 
Brown,  Sidney 
Boyer,  Mars^  Eliza 
Bruen,  Precilla 
Bomberger,  Ann 
Broadwell,  Mary 
Brubecker,  Maria 
Batson,  Anna 
Burns,  Jane 
Brier,  Cynthia 
Bella,  Mary 
Bowen,  Lydia 
Burr,  Sarah 
Bateman,  Mary 
Bourne,  Mary 
Baly,  Mary 
Bacon,  Jane 
Bacon,  Susan 
Brown,  Eliza  Jane 


Bailey,  Hester 
Burch,  Electa 
Curtner,  Cassander 
Crane,  Maria 
Cox,  Mary  Ann 
Calhoun,  Eliza 
Collins,  Maria 
Connolly,  Cassander 
Carson,  Jane 
Cotton,  Mary 
Cottingham,  Mary 
Cipher,  Mary 
Clark,  Elizabeth 
Cain,  Mahala 
Combs,  Nancy 
Casner,  Charlotta 
Cooper,  Harriet 
Crampton,  Ruth 
Clyde,  Julia  Ann 
Doris,  Eliza 
Duncan,  Anna  Jane 
Darst,  Julia  Ann 
Dawson,  Sarah 
Darst,  Christiana 
Day,  Mary 


Doxen,  Mary  Ann 
Darst,  Mary 
Doris,  Hephsida 
Dicks,  Elvira 
Emmrick,  Peggy 
Emmons,  Louisa 
Eaglefield,  Jane 
Folkerth,  Louisa 
Folkerth,  Rebecca 
Foster,  Caroline 
Flook,  Elizabeth 
Gibbs,  Mary  Ann 
Greene,  Eliza 
Gay,  Enesha 
Greene,  Edlira 
Grimes,  Eliza 
Griffin,  Charlotta 
Grimes,  Betsey 
Golliher,  Jane  C 
Hatfield,  Eliza 
Hess,  Betsey 
Hildreth,  Elizabeth 
Huffman,  Kitty  A. 
Hollingsworth,  S. 
Harden,  Deborah 


SABBATH  SCHOOL. 


81 


Henderson,  Jane 
Jenks,  Martha 
Peirce,  >rary 
Peirce,  Mary  Ann 
Perrine,  Hannah 
Parks,  Louisa 
Price,  Rachel 


Hiser,  Barbara  Smith,  Sally  Williams,  Susan 

Hyde,  Letitia  Ann     Shaw,  Sarah  Williams,  Anna 

Hanly,  Caroline  Stoneberger,  Polly     Wilson,  Betsey 

Haines,  Catharine     Summons,Innocence  Walter,  Eleanor 
Henderson,  Mary       Swisher,  Rachel         Windsor,  Deborah 
Sourbray,  Mary  Ann  Warner,  Plelen 
Shartle,  Nancy  Westerhann,  E. 

Stibbins,  Mary  Ann  Woodrow.  Ann 
Slaught,  Mary  Jane  White.  Polly 
Taswell,  Barbara        Vv'illiams,  Elizabeth 
Tull,  Jane  Eleanor     Wooderman,  M.  S. 
Tyler,  Sarah  Walton,  Elizabeth 

Phillips,  Elizabeth    Talbert,  Elizabeth     W^hite,  Ruth  Ann 
Phillips,  Marianna    Thrall,  Eleanor  Washburn,  Anna 

Parrot,  Elizabeth       Toman,  Lavina  Willison,  Jane 

Patton,  Susan  Thompson,  Nancy     Wilson,  Mary  Jane 

Patton,  Nancy  Van  Cleve,  Eliza        Withrow,  Sarah  Bell 

Patterson^  Clarissa     Volentine,  Abigail     Wilson,  Mary  Ann 
Porter,  Mary  Vagus,  Mary  Ann      Withrow,  Jane 

Patton,  Eliza  Van  Tyle,  Elizabeth  Withrow,  Mary 

Spencer,  Cynthia       Wolfe,  Kitty  Wanger,  Catharine 

Wilson,  Malinda        Wigley,  Eliza 
Worman,  Margaret    Wollfe,  Rosanna 
Walton,  Juliet  Windsor,  Susan 

Witman,  Lydia  * 


Squier,  Phebe 
Squier,  Eliza 
Syfers,  Mary 


*  Note. — Although  the  above  list  is  correctly  copied  from  the  original, 
the  author  will  not  vouch  for  its  accuracy.  He  is  inclined  to  think  it 
contains  the  names  of  some  persons,  especially  of  some  ladies,  who  were 
not  bom  at  the  date  of  the  list. 

n 


82 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


•'  Membership. 

The  total  number  of  members  received  into  the  First 
Church,  since  its  organization,  is  over  1700.  There  is  no 
record  of  the  names  of  Church-members  prior  to  February 
14th,  1817.  The  record  of  membership  begins  at  that  date, 
and  the  admissions  to  Church  communion,  under  different 
pastors,  by  examination  and  by  letter,  are  as  follows: 


Pastors. 


Rev.  .James  Welch 

Rev.  Backus  Wilbur 

Rev.  Ahab  .Tencks 

Rev.  William  Graham 

Church  vacant 

Rev.  Franklin  Putnam 

Rev.  .James  C.  Barnes 

Rev.  Wm.  C.  Anderson,  D.  D 
Rev.  Phineas  D.  Gurley,  D.  D 

Rev.  James  H.  Brookes 

Rev.  Thomas  E.  Thomas,  D.  D 

Church  vacant 

Rev.  John  McVey 

Church  vacant 

Rev.  Leigh  Richmond  Smith 


O  o 

o  > 

1^ 

Received  on 
examination. 

Received  on 
certificate. 

Total. 

Yrs. 

18 

66 

H 

23 

28 

51 

.  2 

41 

15 

56 

3 

28 

25 

53 

2 

8 

129 

92 

221 

9 

169 

111 

280 

4 

75 

78 

153 

4 

104 

50 

154 

4 

68 

54 

122 

12 

173 

167 

340 

1 

1      • 

13 

14 

2i 

12 

31 

43 

H 

4 

6 

10 

3 

36 

45 

81 

RULING  ELDERS. 


RULING  ELDERS. 

The  roll  of  ruling  elders  is  as  follows- 

Before    1817,   John    Miller,  Judge   John    Ewing,  John 
Ritchie,  H.  Robinson. 

Second  List:  Jas.  Hanna,  Robert  Park's,  John  McKaig, 
William  King  Sr. 

From  1821,  Job  Haines. 
From  1823,  Obadiah  B.  Conover. 

From  1829,  David   Osborn,   Dr.    Juo.    Steele,   Matthew 
Pattou. 

From  183G,  Peter  Odlin  Esq.,  Charles  0.  Patterson. 
From  1840,  James  Steele,  Samuel  M.  King,  Charles  H. 
Spinning. 

From  1846,  Joseph  Barnett,  Henry  Stoddard  Sr. 
From  1850,  Henry  L.  Brown,  John  Morehouse,  Dr.  Geo. 
Green. 

From  1853,  E.  Anson  More,  Herbert  S.  Williams. 
From  1857,  Dr.  Clarke  McDermont,  Francis  Mulford. 
From    1864,    Judge    Youngs   V.    Wood,    Isaac    Haas, 
Leonard  Moore. 

From  1874,  John  F.  Edgar,  William  A.  Barnett. 
From  1878,  Charles  TJ.  Raymond,  Augustus  F.  Payne. 
From  187*9,  E.  A.  Parrott,  John  H.  Thomas. 


84 


FIRST  FRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


DEACONS. 

The  iirst  Board  of  Deacons  was  elected  on  the  13th  of 
January,  1847.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  deacons  to  see  that 
the  poor  are  provided  for.  Below  is  a  roll  of  these  officers 
since  the  above  date  : 


John  F.  Edgar, 
Dr.  George  Green, 
Gordon  Arnold, 
Herb.  S.  Williams, 
Augustus  Newell, 
John  Rench, 
E.  A.  More, 
David  Osborn, 
B.  F.  Ells, 
Hiram  Lewis, 
0.  P.  Boyer, 
Youngs  V.  Wood, 
Dr.  J.  C.  Denise, 


Charles  Ells, 
Frank  Mulford, 
Isaac  Haas, 
Leonard  Moore, 
Thos.  0.  Lowe, 
Henry  Stoddard  Jr., 
G.  P.  Thruston, 
Jacob  D.  Dubois, 
John  H.  Thomas, 
David  Bradford, 
R.  I.  Cummin, 
David  W.  Stewart, 
Houston  Lowe. 


TRUSTEES. 


85 


TRUSTEES. 

The  roll  of  Trustees  elected  by  the  First  Church,  since 
its  organization,  is  as  follows: 


Miller,  John 
Edgar,  Robert 
Reid,  David 
McCabe,  John 
EwiNG,  Judge  John 
Brown,  Henry 
Robinson,  Henry 
Hood,  Andrew 
Cooper,  D.  C. 
Williams,  T.  H. 
Hanna,  James 
King,  William 
McClure,  William 
Robinson,  H. 
Patton,  Matthew 
Steele,  Judge  Jas. 
Phillips,  H.  G. 
Burnet,  Isaac  G. 
Smith,  G.  W. 


Lindsley,  David 
Stoddard,  Henry 
Eaker,  William 
Barnett,  Joseph 
Bacon,  Henry 
Odlin,  Peter 
Davies,  E.  W. 
McPherson,  Saml. 
Pease,  Horace 
Brown,  Henry  L. 
Newell,  Augustus 
Lowe,  John  G. 
Stover,  James 
Rench,  John 
Phillips,  T.  A. 
More,  E.  Anson 
Conover,  Harvey 
Harshman,  Jon. 
Overlease,  Abra. 


Lowe,  P.  P. 
Smith,  T.  J.  S. 
Little,  B.  F. 
Stoddard,  A.  P. 
FOOTE,  W.  H. 
Stoddard  Jr.,  H. 
Wampler,  James 
Edgar,  Samuel 
Stoddard,  J.  W. 
Dubois,  J.  D. 
Wallace,  W.  H. 
Phillips,  G.  L. 
Moore,  Leonard 
Stewart  D.  W. 
Craighead,  Wm. 
Smith,  Samuel  B. 
Haas,  Isaac 
•Cummin,  R.  I. 
Rogers,  Geo.  W. 


86 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


TREASURERS. 

Below  is  a  list  of  Treasurers  of  the  First  Churcli  since 
its  organization  : 


McClure,  William 

CONOVER,  ObADIAH 

FoLKERTH,  John 
George,  Augustus 
Van  Cleve,  Benj. 
Ells,  B.  F. 
Newell,  Augustus 
Wood,  Youngs  V. 
BooTHE,  Eli 


More,  E.  Anson 
Lowe,  P.  P. 
Harshman,  Jon. 
Lowe,  Thos.  0. 
Stoddard,  Henry 
Martin,  James  A. 
Moore,  Leonard 
Phillips,  Chas.  A. 
Dubois,  J.  D. 


Conover,  Hugh. 


COLLECTORS. 


87 


COLLECTORS. 


Below  is  a  list  of  Collectors  of  the  First  Church  since 
its  organization: 


Patton,  Matthew 
McFadden,  a. 
Wilson,  R. 
Kinct,  John 
PiERSoN,  Henry 
Darst,  Abraham 
Davison,  Joseph 
Clarke,  Thomas 
McPherson,  Saml. 
Freeman,  Samuel 


OsBORN,  David 
Newell,  Augustus 

WONDERLICH,  JaCOB 

Dickson,  J.  W. 
Ells,  B.  F. 
Forsythe,  E.  J. 
Wood,  Youngs  V. 
BooTHE,  Eli 
Lewis,  Hiram 
Wallace,  W. 


CoNOVER,  Hugh. 


8S  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

COLONEL   JOHN   G.  LOWE. 

Colonel  John  G.  Lowe  was  chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  for  a  long  period,  also  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee for  building  the  new  church. 

His  services  were  of  great  value,  and  upon  his  retiring 
from  office,  the  congregation,  at  their  annual  meeting,  on 
the  3rd  of  April,  1873,  unanimously  passed  the  following: 

'■^Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  congregation  are  due 
to  Colonel  John  G.  Lowe  for  his  long  and  faithful  service 
on  the  Board  of  Trustees." 

CHURCH   REVENUES. 

All  church  enterprises  and  mission  work  are  inseparably 
connected  with  money — and  the  lack  of  funds  is  often  as 
great  a  source  of  annoyance  to  Christian  congregations  as 
to  individuals  in  their  secular  business. 

The  mode  of  raising  money  for  church  expenses  varies 
in  different  churches,  and  in  the  same  church  at  different 
periods.  Whatever  plan  meets  the  necessary  requirements 
most  successfully,  is  usually  adopted.  In  the  First  Church, 
the  following  plan  has  been  practiced  with  slight  modifi- 
cations for  many  years : 

Every  person  connected  with  the  congregation  is  afforded 
an  opportunity  of  contributing  to  the  support  of  the  gospel. 

Each  person  is  desired  to  state,  if  practicable,  what  shall 
be  his   or  her  weekly  contribution   for  the  year,  and  en- 


CHURCH  REVENUES.  89 

velopes  for  transmitting  the  amount  are  furnished  by  the 
deacons,  who  make  a  collection  every  Sabbath. 

All  contributions  are  voluntary. 

If  any  prefer  to  pay  a  specific  sum  monthly  or  quarterly, 
they  can  do  so  by  paying  in  advance. 

A  personal  account  is  kept  with  contributors,  and  care 
taken  that  no  account  shall  run  behind  more  than  one 
month. 

It  is  the  rule  that  current  expenses  be  paid  as  soon  as 
practicable,  and  all  accounts  closed  at  the  end  of  each  year. 

When  the  present  church  was  built,  it  was  decided  to 
sell  every  alternate  pew,  in  order  to  pay  the  debt.  Many 
of  the  pews  have  been  thus  disposed  of,  but  the  purchase 
of  a  pew  does  not  exempt  the  buyer  from  his  obligation  to 
contribute  to  the  support  of  the  Church  —  the  advantage 
of  buying  being  merely  to  secure  the  privilege  of  occupy- 
ing the  same  seat  each  Sabbath. 

The  object  of  reserving  the  alternate  pews  was  to  afford 
better  accommodation  to  strangers,  etc.,  than  had  previously 
been  enjoyed. 

CONTRIBUTIONS. 

Besides  the  contributions  for  current  Church  expenses, 
special  collections  are  taken  up  every  year  for  the  Board  of 
Foreign  and  Domestic  Missions,  the  Bible  Cause,  the  Board 
of  Education,  and  of  Publication,  Church  Extension,  Minis- 
terial Relief,  Freedmen,  the  Church  Sustentation  Fund,  and 
the  Poor.     In  addition  to  these,  many  irregular  calls  are 

made  on  the  Church  for  other  benevolent  purposes, 
12 


90  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

The  earliest  recorded  collection  was  the  sum  of  $403.03, 
to  build  a  second  place  of  worship.  This  sum  was  increased 
by  subscription  of  the  congregation  to  $6,514,122-  —  the 
cost  of  their  new  church,  which  was  completed  on  the  27th 
of  March,  1821,  seven  and  one  half  years  after  the  church 
had  resolved  to  build.  In  February,  1839,  the  trustees  of 
the  Church  were  directed  by  the  congregation  to  take 
down  the  church  of  1821,  and  erect  a  new  one.  The  new 
one  was  completed  in  the  winter  of  1841-2,  at  a  cost  of 
$14,213.08;  and,  as  has  already  been  stated,  the  church  of 
1873  cost  about  $100,000.00. 

The  first  record  of  collections  for  charitable  purposes 
is  dated  1824,  under  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  William 
Graham,  amounting  in  a  year  to  $38.50.  In  1834,  the 
benevolent  contribution  amounted  to  $413.00. 

In  1844,  it  was  $544.00;  1854,  $1,237.00;  1864,  $800.00; 
1874,  $731.00;  1880,  $1,564.81. 

The  total  collections  for  charities  and  general  Church 
expenses  were: 

In  1850,  $1,333.00;  1860,  $2,851.00;  1870,  $3,075.00; 
1880,  $5,066.81. 

MISS    MARY    STRAIN. 

Miss  Mary  Strain,  and  her  sister  Martha,  were  long  con- 
nected with  the  First  Church.  Their  father  was  one  of 
tlie  early  pioneers,  and  kept  a  respectable  tavern  in  Dayton 
long  before  the  luxury  of  a  modern  hotel  was  known  west 
of  the  AUeghanies.     Their  father,  dying,  left  them  com. 


CHURCH  REVENUES.  91 

fortably  provided  for,  and  they  passed  their  lives  quietly 
and  most  affectionately  together,  using  their  means  dis- 
creetly, and  enjoying  their  Church  privileges  with  the 
greatest  regularity,  until  prevented  by  the  frailties  of  age. 
Mary  survived  her  sister  by  a  few  years,  and  at  her  death, 
in  1871,  it  was  found  that  she  had  bequeathed  her  resi- 
dence to  the  First  Church,  to  be  used  as  a  parsonage.  She 
also  left  the  Church  $3,000  — the  aggregate  of  her  bequest 
amounting  to  $9,000. 

f  DICKINSON    P.    TimUSTON. 

Tills  2:entleman,  before  his  death,  bequeathed  to  the 
Church  an  interest  in  some  property  that  has  already 
yielded  over  live  hundred  dollars.  It  is  believed  the 
Church  will  derive  about  twelve  hundred  dollars  altogether 
from  Mr.  Thniston's  bequest.     He  died  in  1876. 

ABRAHAM    OVERLEASE. 

Another  staunch  Presbyterian,  left  the  Church  a  legacy 
of  live  hundred  dollars.  Two  hundred  dollars  of  the 
amount  was  to  be  appropriated  for  the  beneht  of  the 
Sabbath-school. 

Mr.  Overlease  died  on    the  25th  of  April,  1872. 


92  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


A   SURVEY   OF   THE   CHURCH. 

From  a  discourse  delivered  by  Dr.  T.  E.  Thomas  in 
April,  1870,  preparatory  to  a  collection  for  pajnng  off 
the  debt  of  the  Church: 

"On  the  whole,  this  survey  of  the  history  of  our  Church 
evinces  the  vitality  and  vigor  of  its  organization,  and  the 
continued  presence  of  that  divine  and  blessed  Spirit,  from 
v^hom  only  that  life  and  vigor  flow.  From  a  very  small 
beginning,  in  an  almost  unbroken  forest,  out  of  which 
a  savage  foe  had  yet  scarcely  retreated,  it  has  steadily 
advanced  with  the  progress  of  the  community  around  it, 
and  exerts,  to-day,  perhaps  as  wide  an  influence  as  at  any 
former  period  in  its  history.  For  almost  three-quarters 
of  a  century,  the  public  worship  of  God  has  been  main- 
tained here  without  interruption.  A  pure  gospel  has 
been  preached  in  simplicity  and  earnestness.  The  voice 
of  prayer,  and  the  hymn  of  praise,  have  ascended  con- 
tinually to  heaven.  Your  fathers,  yourselves,  and  your 
children,  have  been  taught  here,  from  infancy,  the  words 
of  everlasting  life  —  the  'doctrine  according  to  godliness.' 
God  only  knows  —  eternity  only  will  reveal  the  full  results 
of  the  Christian  labor  expended  here  in  the  seventy  years 
past.  The  statistics  just  recorded  unfold  those  results 
very  imperfectly.  Who  can  tell  how  many  souls,  here 
born  again,  or  lifted  to  a  higher  plane  of  sanctification, 
have  curried  elsewhere  a  coal  from  your  altar,  to  kindle 
new  flanies  in  other  domestic  and  public  sanctuaries?    Who 


SURVEY  OF  THE  CHURCH.  93 

can  trace,  in  our  own  and  foreign  lands,  the  streams  of 
blessing  which  have  followed  the  prayers  and  the  alms 
here  offered  to  heaven  ?  For  all  this  let  us  thank  God  and 
take  courage.  But  what  prospect  lies  before  us  ?  And 
how  may  we  learn  from  the  past  to  beneUt  the  future? 

"First,  after  having  built  three  houses  of  v^^orship  within 
sixt3-seven  years,  two  of  them  upon  this  spot,  our  church 
is  now  provided  with  a  massive  and  beautiful  structure, 
likely  to  stand  for  many  generations,  and  furnishing  all 
needful  accommodations  for  all  church  work.  If  we  ask, 
what  effect,  the  completion  of  our  place  of  worship  will 
have  upon  the  temporal  and  spiritual  interests  of  the 
Church,  we  find  an  answer  in  her  previous  history.  Twice 
before  has  she  rebuilt  her  sanctuary;  and  each  enlarge- 
ment, has  been  followed  by  a  marked  increase  of  her  con- 
gregation and  communicants.  Or,  look  at  other  churches 
around  us,  whose  costly  outlay  for  new  temples  has,  in 
every  case,  constituted  an  era  in  their  spiritual  prosperity. 
Suppose,  then,  this  debt  liquidated,  and  our  house  so 
far  completed; — what  provision  have  we  in  our  Church 
organization  for  the  work  that  lies  before  us  ?  First,  we 
have  the  ministry  of  the  word  addressed  to  a  growing 
congregation.  Then,  a  Sabbath-school,  amply  provided, 
under  competent  and  faithfnl  officers  and  teachers  to  train 
the  young  in  truth  and  duty.  Next  a  Bible  class,  with 
over  fifty  on  its  roll,  affording  your  pastor  an  opportunity 
to  guide  the  younger  adults  to  a  knowledge  of  God's  holy 
word.  We  have  four  stated  assemblies  for  social  service 
and   mutual  improvement  in  grace;    one  for    our  young 


94  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

ladies,  one  for  the  married  ladies,  one  for  youug  men,  and 
one  for  the  congregation  generally.  There  is  abundant 
material  to  sustain  all  these  in  effective  operation.  We 
have  besides,  a  ladies'  association  for  purposes  purely  social 
and  benevolent.  The  influence  of  which,  as  exemplified 
during  the  past  week,  in  bringing  our  whole  congregation 
into  true  fellowship  and  earnest  co-operation,  can  not  but 
be  most  happy.  What  is  chiefly  needful,  to  secure  for 
such  an  organization,  the  constant  blessing  of  heaven  in 
the  conversion  and  sanctification  of  souls,  is  this  :  the  faith- 
ful discharge  of  personal  duty  by  each  individual  in  his 
proper  place,  under  that  spiritual  supervision  and  direction 
which  the  Head  of  the  Church  has  ordained.  Let  each 
member,  old  and  young,  maiden,  man  or  mother,  find  a 
place  in  such  of  these  assemblies,  as  are  befitting,  and  be 
found  there  always.  Providence  permitting,  ready  to  lend 
an  humble  but  cordial  co-operation  in  all  good  works. 
Let  our  perpetual  prayer  be  lifted  up  for  the  gracious 
in-dwelling  of  the  Holy  Comforter;  let  our  motto  be. 
Fidelity  in  our  lot  ;  and  our  future  history  shall  be 
that  of  the  primitive  believers,  recorded  by  the  pen  of 
inspiration  : 

" '  Then  had  the  Church  rest,  and  was  edified ;  and, 
walking  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  in  the  comfort  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  was  multiplied.'"     Acts  9:  31. 


OLD  BURYING  GROUND.  95 

THE  OLD  BURYING  GROUND. 

Daytou  was  laid  out  and  settled  in  1795.  The  first  iranii- 
grauts  lived  in  log  cabins,  which  were  used  for  public 
worship  in  the  winter  time,  in  the  summer  religious  services 
were  conducted  in  the  open  air,  under  the  shade  of  the 
forest  trees.  M.  E.  Curwen,  in  his  history  of  Ohio,  says  the 
Rev.  John  Thompson,  of  Hamilton  County,  was  the  first 
clergyman  that  preached  in  Dayton.  It  has  been  already 
stated  that  Mr.  D.  C.  Cooper  donated  two  pieces  of  ground 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  the  one  on  the  north-east 
corner  of  Main  and  Third  Streets,  was  sold,  and  the  pro- 
ceeds used  in  building  the  first  church,  on  Ludlow  Street. 
The  other  piece  was  the  old  burying  ground,  on  the  south 
side  of  Fifth  Street,  through  which  Wilkinson  Street  was 
recently  opened.  In  process  of  time,  the  old  grave-yard 
became  densely  populated,  and  as  the  rapidly  growing 
city  encroached  on  its  sacred  precincts,  measures  were 
taken  to  provide  another  and  more  retired  place  of  burial. 
Woodland  Cemetery  was  dedicated  in  1843. 

Subsequently  the  city  council  of  Dayton  passed  a  sani- 
tary ordinance,  putting  a  stop  to  any  further  interments 
within  the  city  limits.  The  old  burying  ground  with  its 
dilapidated  fence,  crumbling  tombstones,  and  sunken  graves 
was  for  a  long  time  supposed  to  have  achieved  its  destiny, 
and  had  almost  ceased  to  be  thought  of,  except  as  the 
solemn  relic  of  a  by -gone  age;  but  its  mission  had  not  all 
been  fulfilled,  as  the  sequel  will  show.     In  1869,  the  con- 


98  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

gregation  of  the  First  Church  were  much  embarrassed  for 
want  of  funds  to  complete  their  new  house  of  worship. 
The  cost  of  building  had  far  exceeded  the  original  esti- 
mates. Money  was  scarce,  owing  to  a  general  paralysis  in 
the  business  interests  of  the  country,  and  it  seemed  as 
if  the  work  on  the  church  would  have  to  be  postponed 
indefinitely.  At  this  critical  juncture  a  ray  of  light  broke 
through  the  dark  cloud,  a  sj'mpathetic  voice  from  the 
tombs  reached  the  ear  of  a  discerning  trustee,  and  the 
voice  said,  substantially,  "Child  of  mortality!  whence 
comest  thou,  and  why  is  thy  countenance  sad?  Dost 
thou  not  know  that  thy  fathers,  in  their  life  time,  honored 
God  with  their  substance,  and  thinkest  thou  that,  though 
dead,  they  will  not  delight  to  honor  him  with  their  dust 
also  —  seeing  that  dust  has  turned  to  gold.  Go  to."  The 
Daniels  of  the  First  Church  had  no  difficulty  in  compre- 
hending the  secret  import  of  this  communication.  Soon 
afterward  the  bones  of  the  fathers  were  carefully  and 
reverently  transferred  to  a  more  quiet  resting  place,  in  the 
beautiful  cemetery  of  Woodhind,  together  with  their  monu- 
mental memorials  and  all  other  evidences  of  identity.  The 
mouldering  earth  of  their  clay  tabernacles  was  then  sold 
to  the  highest  bidder  for  $32,000,  which  sum  enabled 
the  Building  Committee  to  proceed  joyfully  with  their 
work.  Eight  thousand  dollars  of  the  above  amount  was 
paid  to  the  heirs  of  the  Cooper  estate,  to  secure  a  relin- 
quishment of  their  claims  to  any  interest  in  the  property 
that  might  arise  by  reversion  or  otherwise, 


CHURCB  ORGANIZATION.  ^"^ 


CHURCH    ORGANIZATION. 

The  organization  of  the  First  Church  is  very  complete. 
In  addition  to  the  congregational  boards,  already  men- 
tioned, there  are  the 

The  Ladies'  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

The  Ladies'  Home  Missionary  Society. 

The  Ladies'  Church  Society. 

The  Young  Ladies'  Minion  Band. 

The  Female  Prayer  Meeting. 

The  Young  People's  Prayer  Meeting. 

The  Congregational  Prayer  Meeting. 

The  Dayton  View  Mission  Sabbath-school. 

Almost  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  congregation  are  organ- 
ized into  separate  committees  — committees  of  ways  and 
means  for  promoting  the  varied  interests  of  the  Church 
in  the  best  way  possible.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the 
committees : 


Committee  on  Strangers :  ^  ^,    . 

William  Barnett,  Chairman. 

Committee  on  Sabbath-schools  : 

A.  F.  Payne,  Chairman. 

Committee  on  Young  People's  Prayer  Meeting  : 

John  H.  Thomas,  Chairman. 

Committee  on  Finance : 

E.  A.  Parrott,  Chairman. 

13 


98  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

Committee  on  the  Poor  of  th^  Church  : 

Frank  Mulford,  Chairman. 

Committee  on  Home  Missions  : 

John  F.  Edgar,  Chairman. 

Committer  on  Board  of  Education,  Relief  Fwul,  Sustentation,  Freed- 
men,  Church  Erection,  and  Publication  : 

C.  U.  RaYxMOND,  Chairman. 

Committee  on  Foreign  Missions  : 

Leigh  Richmond  Smith,  Ch'n. 

The  ladies  of  the  First  Church  contributed  the  past 
year  to  Foreign  and  Domestic  Missions,  one  half  of  the 
whole  amount  raised  by  the  congregation. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


PROMINENT    CHRISTIANS 


VOBMERLT    UOMM£OTSI>    WITH 

THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  OF  DAYTON. 


JOHN    MILLER 


John  Miller,  one  of  the  earliest  trustees  and  elders  of 
the  First  Church,  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  December  30th,  1766.  In  his  early  man- 
hood, he  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he  was  a  member 
of  the  "  Cherry  Springs  Congregation  " — Presbyterian.  In 
the  spring  of  1799  he  removed  to  a  farm,  west  of  the  Miami 
River,  near  the  town  of  Dayton,  where  he  resided  some 
years,  but  afterwards  removed  to  a  farm,  some  three  miles 
north  of  town,  on  which  he  resided  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  name  appears  as  one  of  the  trustees  in  the  early 
organization  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  in  Dayton, 
and  in  the  list  of  elders  in  the  first  record  which  is  found 
of  the  eldership,  but  at  what  date  he  was  inducted  into 
that  othce  does  not  appear.  The  records  show  him  a  faith- 
ful and  attentive  officer  of  the  Church,  and  the  tradition 
is  that  he  was  an  exemplary  and  influential  citizen  and 


100  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

church-member  up  to  the  date  of  his  death,  October  17th, 
1825.  After  his  death,  his  family  (except  his  daughter, 
Sarah,  who  was  then  intermarried  with  O.  B.  Conover), 
removed  to  Indiana  and  Illinois,  where  they,  with  their 
descendants,  have  generally  kept  up  their  connection  with 
the  Church  of  their  fathers. 

OBADIAH    B.    CONOVER. 

Obadiah  Burlew  Conover  was  a  native  of  l^ew  Jersey, 
to  which  part  of  the  new  world  his  ancestors  (Covenhoven, 
by  name,  and  Protestant,  in  religion,)  had  immigrated  at 
an  early  day.  He  was  born,  April  12th,  1788,  on  a  farm, 
near  what  is  now  known  as  the  "•  old  brick  church,"  near 
Middletown  Point,  Monmouth  County,  New  Jersey.  His 
parents  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he 
was  educated  strictly  in  that  faith.  No  special  incidents 
of  his  boyhood  are  known.  Soon  after  he  became  of  age, 
having  faithfully  given  the,  then,  usual  time  to  learning 
thoroughly  a  trade — that  of  blacksmithing — he  determined 
to  come  to  the  west,  and,  in  1812,  located  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
and  continued  diligently  and  thriftily  to  carry  on  his  trade, 
including  the  manufacture  of  wagons,  plows,  and  all  farm- 
ing implements,  for  a  number  of  years,  until  exposure,  and 
over-exertion,  at  the  fire  of  Cooper's  Mills,  so  affected  his 
health  that  he  was  forced  to  engage  in  leas  laborious 
business. 

The   record  of   Church-membership,  prior   to    1817,  is 
lost,  but  it  is  certain  that  he  connected  himself  with  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCRES.  101 

First  Presbyterian  Church  shortly  after  his  arrival  in  Day- 
ton. He  married  April  13th,  1814,  Sarah  Miller,  daughter 
of  John  Miller,  then  a  ruling  elder  in  that  Church.  He 
was  himself  inducted  into  that  office  in  June,  1823,  and 
continued  a  most  active  and  influential  member  and  officer 
until  his  death,  January  6th,  1835.  Although  of  limited 
education  or  school  training  in  early  life,  he  was  a  man  of 
great-good  sense,  thoughtful  and  observant,  and  acquired 
that  practical  knowledge  and  judgment  which,  with  his 
character  for  fair  and  honest  dealing,  in  and  out  of  the 
Church,  gave  him  much  influence  as  a  church  officer  and 
citizen.  He  was  a  diligent  reader  and  student  of  the 
scriptures.  Believing  implicitly  in  their  truth,  and  that 
the  teachings  and  organization  of  th'e  Presbyterian  Church 
were  in  accord  therewith,  he  was  a  regular  attendant  on 
and  participant  in  its  services,  and  gave  his  best  influence 
and  efforts  to  advance  its  interests  and  prosperity  but  with- 
out bigotry  or  unkindness  toward  other  denominations. 

In  all  other  relations  of  life,  he  bore  the  reputation  of  a 
diligent,  upright,  and  true  man,  seeking  carefully  to  know 
his  duties,  and  as  faithfully  and  fearlessly  to  discharge 
them. 

Sarah  Conover,  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  Miller,  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  October  22d,  1794,  and  came  with  her 
parents  to  Dayton  in  1799.  Her  marriage  with  Obadiah  B. 
Conover  took  place  April  13th,  1814,  both  being  memberi 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which'  her  father  was 
an  elder.  In  all  the  work  done  by  women  in  the  Church 
and  its  societies,  she  took  a  more  active  part  in  the  life- 


102  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

time  of  her  husband  than  in  later  years,  but  lived  the 
many  years  thereafter  allotted  her,  a  consistent  and  exem- 
plary Christian  life,  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  and 
prosperity  of  the  Church  ot  which  she  had  so  long  been  a 
member. 

She  died  in  the  fullness  of  years  and  of  faith,  January 
12th,  1872. 

MRS.   ELIZA   S.   PHILLIPS. 

Mrs.  Eliza  S.  Phillips,  wife  of  Horatio  Gates  Phillips, 
was  the  daughter  of  Wm.  Churchill  Houston,  of  New 
Jersey,  and  came  with  her  husband  to  Ohio  about  the  year 
1804,  in  the  2l8t  year  of  her  age.  Descended  from  a  long 
line  of  Presbyterian  ancestors,  prominent  among  whom 
was  her  great-grandfather,  Rev.  Mr.  Dickinson  (hrst  presi- 
dent of  Princeton  College),  she  was  a  devoted  member  ot 
that  communion,  yet  was  she  neither  narrow  or  sectarian 
in  her  faith.  All  Christians  were  dear  to  her.  Her  brother, 
George  S.  Houston,  a  then  resident  of  Dayton,  was  united 
with  the  Methodists,  and  through  him  she  was  much  asso- 
ciated with  the  members  of  his  society.  Dayton  then  had 
but  the  two  churches  —  the  Presbyterian  and  Methodist. 
There  was  a  small  baud  of  Episcopalians  in  1825,  who  held 
services  in  the  old  court-house  whenever  a  minister  passed 
through  that  would  ofhciate.  She  possessed  her  own  prayer 
book,  with  her  name  in  full  on  the  back,  which  she  had 
procured  in  an  eastern  city,  where  she  ever  felt  it  a  privi- 
lege to  attend  the  churches  of  the  venerable  Bishop  White 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  103 

and  Rev.  Mr.  Bedell.  Although  always  delicate  in  health, 
she  was  an  active  working  Christian,  a  teacher  in  the 
Sundaj'-school,  a  corresponding  secretary  of  several  socie- 
ties for  farthering  the  gospel  at  home  and  abroad.  Bay- 
ton  in  early  times  was  for  several  years  visited  with  epi- 
demic fevers;  town  and  country  suftered  alike.  Well  does 
the  writer  remember  how  Mrs.  Phillips  labored  in  minis- 
tering to  the  sick,  weeks  and  months  together,  all  her 
household  being  pressed  into  the  service.  Sometimes  the 
task  was  a  thankless  one,  but  that  never  hindered.  The 
poor  and  the  needy  were  her  special  charge,  feeling,  no 
doubt,  that  as  the  good  things  of  this  world  were  bounti- 
fnlly  given  to  her,  it  was  her  duty  to  share  with  the  less 
fortunate.  Her  hospitality  is  well  known,  but  to  none  was 
it  more  freely  extended  than  to  the  ministers  of  her  be- 
loved Church,  for  whom  there  was  a  room  in  her  house  set 
apart.  We  may  say  these  are  homely,  ever-day  virtues, 
but  how  few  among  us  live  up  to  this  good  example.  Her 
kind  heart  for  the  distressed  will  be  best  shown  by  re- 
ferring to  one  sad  case,  the  unfortunate  child  of  a  dear 
friend.  She  felt  for  him  a  tender  interest,  and  did  every- 
thing in  her  power  that  might  minister  to  his  pleasure. 
He  was  her  frequent  companion  in  country  drives,  either 
on  business  or  to  see  the  sick,  and  when,  by  an  inscrutable 
Providence,  she  was  suddenly  removed  from  her  earthly 
home  to  a  better  in  the  skies,  this  poor  child  of  sorrow 
would  come  day  after  day,  to  her  desolate  home,  wander 
through  the  rooms,  calling  her  name  in  his  imperfect  way, 
sad  and  touching  for  the  bereaved  to  hear.     She  delighted 


104  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

in  flowers.  That  respected  man,  so  well  remembered,  John 
Van  Cleve,  and  herself  would  roam  the  neighboring  prai- 
ries in  search  of  rare  plants — she  in  her  gig,  he  on  foot; 
the  one  as  great  an  enthusiast  as  the  other.  It  would  fill 
a  small  book  to  teli  of  the  resources  of  her  gifted  nature. 
Identified  as  she  was  with  all  the  home  enterprises  of  those 
early  days,  so  entirely  one  with  the  interests  of  all  classes 
in  her  vicinity,  the  portrait  of  her  life  would  be  giving  the 
early  history  of  Dayton,  Doubtless  many  good  and  pious 
women  have  succeeded  her,  but  the  writer  has  never  per- 
sonally known  one  so  unselfish,  so  blind  to  the  faults  of 
others,  so  forgiving  of  injuries,  so  abounding  in  good 
works. 

Soon  after  coming  to  Dayton  her  husband  had  an  attack 
of  fever,  and  would  have  moved  to  the  South,  but,  being 
strongly  opposed  to  slavery,  she  prevailed  upon  him  to  re- 
main in  Ohio,  where  they  could  enjoy  the  benefit  of  a  large 
land-grant  that  his  father.  Captain  Jonathan  Phillips,  had 
obtained  from  the  government  for  his  services  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  Her  husband  often  said  he  owed  all 
his  success  in  life  to  her  prudence,  good  counsel  and  devo- 
tion. Mrs.  Phillips  left  one  son,  J.  Dickinson  Phillips, 
and  two  daughters,  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Worthington,  and 
Marianne,  the  wife  of  Col.  John  G.  Lowe.  Mr.  J.  D.  Phil- 
lips died  several  years  ago,  but  his  family  and  the  family 
of  Mrs.  Lowe  still  maintain  their  connection  with  the  First 
Church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  105 


ROBERT   EDGAR. 

Robert  Edgar,  whose  name  is  prominent  in  the  early 
records  of  the  First  Church  of  Dayton,  was  horn  at  Win- 
chester, Virginia.  His  father,  also  named  Robert,  belonged 
to  a  Presbyterian  family  in  the  north  of  Ireland.  In  1739 
he  emigrated  to  this  country,  and  joined  the  Scotch-Irish 
settlement  in  the  Shenandoah  Valle3%  He  afterward  mov- 
ed with  his  family  to  West  Virginia,  and  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  while  on  his  way  to  warn  a  neighboring  settlement 
of  the  hostile  red  men's  approach.  Robert  Edgar  Jr., 
came  to  Daj^ton  in  179G,  and  located  on  land  east  of  the 
city.  He  was  a  farmer,  but,  being  ingenious,  he  built  a 
mill  for  Mr.  D.  C.  Cooper,  and  managed  it  for  a  short 
period.  His  lirst  dwelling  was  a  log  cabin  that  stood  near 
the  mill,  close  to  the  present  canal  bridge  on  Water  Street. 
The  Indians  then  living  in  the  Miami  Valley  were  well 
disposed  towards  the  first  settlers,  and  often  called  on  Mrs. 
Edgar  to  get  some  of  her  bread,  which  they  were  very 
fond  of.  They  were  also  fond  of  Mr.  Edgar's  whisky. 
Piety  and  punch  had  not  been  divorced  in  those  days  as 
they  are  now.  An  Indian  came  to  the  mill  one  day  to  get 
some  whisky,  but  Mr.  E.  positively  refused.  The  Indian 
drew  his  knife,  at  sight  of  which  Mr.  Edgar  started  for  his 
house  in  order  to  get  his  rifle.  The  pursuing  savage  was 
knocked  down  by  one  of  the  mill  hands,  the  arm  in  which 
he  held  the  knife  was  broken,  and  this  put  a  stop  to  further 
hostilities. 
14 


106  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Mr.  Edgar  purchased  a  tract  of  land  on  the  south-eastern 
border  of  the  city,  well  known  as  the  "Edgar  Farm,"  and 
now  occupied  by  his  great-grandchildren.  He  had  eleven 
children,  only  one  of  whom,  John  F.  Edgar,  is  now  living. 
He  died  December  19,  1838.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Margaret  Gillespie,  died  in  1844.  Both  were 
earnest  Christians,  and  faithful  in  training  their  children 
in  conformity  with  the  strict  requirements  of  the  old  Pres- 
byterian code. 

The  Church  records  show  that  Mr.  Edgar  was  an  active 
and  devoted  member  of  the  Church  from  the  first  mention 
of  its  organization  in  Dayton  until  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  First  Board  of  Trustees,  and  was 
much  interested  in  building  the  first  house  of  worship. 
His  worthy  and  well-known  son,  John  F.  Edgar,  is  an 
elder  in  the  First  Church. 

Among  the  interesting  relics  of  his  father  is  the  cavalry 
sword  used  by  the  latter,  daring  his  servii;e  in  the  war 
of  1812. 

JUDGE    JAMES    STEELE. 

James  Steele  was  born  in  Rockbridge  County,  Virginia, 
October  28th,  1778.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage, 
the  Steele  family  having  emigrated  from  the  north  of 
Ireland  and  settled  in  Virginia  in  1737.  His  father,  l^jbert 
Steele,  removed  with  his  family  to  Kentucky  in  1788. 
James  Steele  came  to  Dayton  in  1807,  and  engaged  in 
merchandizing  in  connection  with  Joseph  Peirce,  whose 
sister  he  married.     Both  his  grandfather  and  father  were 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  107 

ruling  elders  iu  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  with  such 
an  ancestry,  on  coming  to  Dayton,  he  naturally  at  once 
identified  himself  with  the  Church,  and  was  active  in  pro- 
moting its  interests.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  when  the  first  and  second  buildings  were  erected 
on  the  lot  on  which  the  present  church  stands.  He  was 
especially  interested  in  the  building  of  the  second  house, 
and  gave  to  it  much  of  liis  time  and  personal  attention. 
The  house  was  just  completed  when  he  died,  in  1841. 

The  following  obituary  notice,  written  by  the  late  Judge 
Crane  and  published  in  the  Dayton  Journal,  shows  the 
estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  fellow-citizens: 

"The  deceased  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  city. 
He  iilled  vari(^us  important  public  stations,  having  been 
fourteen  years  an  associate  judge  of  this  county,  a  senator 
four  years  in  the  Legislature  of  this  State,  and,  in  1824, 
one  of  the  electors  for  President  and  V^ice-President  of 
the  United  States  for  the  State  of  Ohio.  He  was  president 
of  the  Dayton  bank  from  the  time  of  its  first  organization 
up  to  the  end  ot  his  life.  In  all  the  relations  of  life,  public 
or  private,  his  character  was  irreproachable.  On  the  betich 
he  was  distinguished  for  good  sense,  integrity,  and  impar- 
tiality. As  a  legislator,  in  a  period  of  great  public  excite- 
ment, though  firm  and  consistent  in  his  political  opinions, 
he  won  the  esteem  and  respect  of  his  opponents  by  his 
candor  and  moderation.  His  private  life  was  not  more 
marked  by  strict  and  unyielding  integrity  than  by  the 
kindness  and  benignity  of  his  nature  to  all  his  fellow- 
creatures.     His  death  was  sudden  and   unlooked  for,  but 


108  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

he  was  au  humble  and  devoted  Christian,  and  his  life  had 
been  a  preparation  for  that  awful  event." 

From  the  records  of  the  Church  of  which  Judge  Steele 
was  a  member  and  office-bearer,  and  from  the  concurrent 
testimony  of  those  who  knew  him  in  youth  and  manhood, 
it  would  appear  that  a  germ  of  divine  righteousness  was 
planted  in  his  spirit,  with  birth  itself,  which  budded  pleas- 
antly in  youth,  and,  in  riper  age,  gave  forth  its  rich  blos- 
soms and  fruits. 

He  was  a  stranger  to  any  ambition  but  the  ambition  to 
do  justly,  love  mercy,  and  walk  humbly  with  his  Q-od. 
But  unsought  dignities  and  trusts  were  naturally  thrust 
upon  him,  as  has  been  pointed  out  by  Judge  Crane,  and 
those  dignities  he  wore  with  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit  — 
never  suffering  them  to  interfere  with  his  Christian  duties  ; 
but  whether  at  home,  or  absent  from  home,  his  life  was 
an  embodiment  and  illustration  of  the  faith  which  he 
professed. 

An  early  friend  of  Judge  Steele's  (now  in  his  eighty- 
second  year)  said,  in  reply  to  an  inquiry  by  the  writer, 
"I  knew  him  well,  in  his  Church  and  business  relations; 
we  were  long  associated,  on  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
First  Church.  He  was  a  man  among  ten  thousand.  For 
safety  of  judginetit,  sterling  integrity  of  character,  and 
true  benevolence  of  nature,  I  never  knew  his  equal." 

No  n)un  is  better  known  in  this  community  than  Judge 
Steele's  son  Robert;  —  of  whom  it  is  no  light  praise  to  say, 
that  he  is  a  worthy  son  of  his  honored  father. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  109 


WILLIAM   KING. 

Among  the  original  members  of  the  First  Church  there 
rises  prominently  to  view  one  familiarly  known,  in  many 
of  the  churches  of  that  early  day,  as  Father  King.  He 
was  born  of  Presbyterian  parents,  in  Pennsylvania,  being 
one  of  the  eight  children  of  a  well-to-do  farmer.  The 
death  of  his  father,  and  the  financial  troubles  resulting 
from  the  revolutionary  war,  so  marred  his  prospects  that 
upon  reaching  manhood  he  found  himself  almost  penniless, 
and  determined  to  retrieve  his  fortunes  in  the  then  far 
west.  With  him,  to  resolve  was  to  execute.  So,  taking 
with  him  his  young-  wife,  he  started  for  Kentucky  amid 
the  lamentations  of  friends  who  declared  "he  might  as 
well  go  out  of  the  world."  He  located  near  Lexington. 
During  his  residence  there,  three  sons  and  two  dauQ-hters 
were  added  to  his  family.  Dissatisfied  with  Kentucky  on 
account  of  slavery,  he  determined  to  brave  the  hardships 
of  pioneer  life  in  Ohio,  rather  than  rear  his  children  among 
such  influences.  Possessed  of  a  vigorous  constitution,  in- 
domitable will,  and  fearless  courage,  he  procured  a  team, 
placed  his  worldly  effects  with  his  family  in  his  wagon, 
started  on  his  journey,  crossed  the  Ohio,  shaking  the  very 
dust  of  slavery  from  his  feet,  and  pursued  his  way  through 
the  wilderness  until  he  reached  Dayton,  which  at  that 
time  presented  but  a  few  cabins  amid  surrounding  forests. 
Crossing  the  Miami  River  he  cut  his  way  through  un- 
broken forests  and  located  about  two  miles  west  of  where 


110  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

the  Dayton  Court  House  now  stands.  He  had  but  one 
dollar  in  his  pocket  when  he  pitched  his  tent,  but  he  went 
to  work  with  a  stout  heart,  determined  to  owe  no  man 
anything.  The  site  selected  became  his  permanent  resi- 
dence. It  was  one  of  the  pleasantest  locations  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Da3^ton,  and  continues  to  be  occupied  by  his 
descendants  to  the  present  day. 

He  carried  into  the  church  all  the  firmness  and  energy 
which  characterized  his  daily  life.  He  filled  the  office  of 
ruling  elder  in  the  First  Church,  until  laid  aside  by  the 
infirmities  of  age;  but  he  continued  devoted  to  the  church 
and  its  services  long  after  "•  hoary  hairs  had  his  temples 
adorned."  Especially  do  we  remember  his  tall  and  vener- 
able form,  in  seasons  of  especial  interest,  when,  after  the 
sermon,  anxious  sinners  were  invited  to  come  forward,  lie 
would  rise  from  his  seat  and  facing  the  congregation,  would 
sing  his  favorite  hymn,  "Come  humble  sinner  in  whose 
breast."  Even  after  his  eyes  had  become  dim,  and  his  ears 
dull  of  hearing,  his  seat  in  front  of  the  pulpit  was  seldom 
vacant  on  the  Sabbath.  It  w^as  nothing  unusual  to  see  him 
rise  from  his  seat  and  stand  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  leaning 
upon  his  staff,  and  listening  to  the  words  of  life  as  they 
fell  from  the  minister's  lips.  But  unquestionably  his  last 
days  were  his  best  days.  For  many  years  confined  to  his 
room,  bereft  of  sight,  taste  and  smell,  and  almost  of  hear- 
ing, never  one  repining  or  peevish  word  escaped  his  lips. 
On  the  contrary,  the  goodness  of  God  and  his  daily  mercies 
were  his  constant  theme.  His  mind  retained  its  vigor  in 
a  wonderful  degree  to  the  very  last.     It  was  hoped  by  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  Ill 

numerous  friends  that  he  would  live  to  complete  his  hun- 
dredth year;  but  three  months  before  that  period  arrived 
his  freed  spirit  obeyed  the  summons  "to  come  up  higher." 

His  two  daughters  died  in  early  life,  followed  in  a  few 
years  by  liis  wife,  who  was  a  woman  of  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence  and  Christian  growth.  The  two  elder  sons 
made  their  home  in  Madison,  lud.,  where  both  filled  posts 
of  honor  and  usefulness  in  the  church.  The  younger  son, 
Samuel,  remained  with  his  father,  and  early  in  life  identi- 
fied himself  with  the  church,  continuing  through  life  one 
of  its  devoted  members  and  ablest  supporters.  For  many 
years  he  served  acceptably  as  a  ruling  elder,  and  was  a 
"living  epistle  known  and  read  of  all  men."  More  like 
his  mother  than  his  father,  he  was  constitutionally  weak; 
and  his  life  was  characterized  by  pain  and  suffering.  At 
the  age  of  fifty-six  years  his  spirit,  freed  from  the  cum- 
brous clay,  soared  aAvay  to  that  better  land  where  there 
is  "no  more  [)ain,"  and  where  "they  that  turn  many  to 
righteousness  shall  shine  as  the  stars  forever  and  ever." 

His  grandchild,  the  present  William  B.  King,  was  one 
of  the  colony  that  went  out  of  the  First  Church  to  organize 
the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  city,  of  which  he 
has  long  been  a  ruling  elder.  William  King,  Sr.,  his  son 
Samuel,  and  his  son-in-law,  David  Osborn,  were  cotempo- 
rary  elders  in  the  First  Church,  and  for  a  long  time  exer- 
cised a  controlling  influence  in  its  spiritual  affairs. 


112  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

JOSEPH    BARNETT. 

This  gentleman  is  well  remembered  by  tbe  people  of 
Dayton.  He  was  long  and  prominently  identified  with  the 
business  interests  of  the  city,  as  well  as  with  its  Christian 
work.  He  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  His  ancestors 
were  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  who  settled  near  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pennsylvania,  about  the  middle  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. Mr.  Barnett  was  a  volunteer  in  the  war  of  1812. 
In  1813  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Colonel  Allen, 
an  officer  of  the  Revolution. 

He  came  to  Dayton  in  1831,  and  built  the  handsome 
residence  in  West  Dayton,  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
Judge  Craig.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Senate,  and 
afterwards  served  in  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1839. 
In  1834  he  and  his  wife  became  members  of  the  First 
Church.  Some  years  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he 
married  Miss  Jane  Rodgers,  of  Clark  County,  who  sur- 
vived him  by  a  few  years.  In  1846  he  was  elected  ruling 
elder,  and  was  one  of  the  most  zealous,  liberal,  and  influ- 
ential members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  hospi- 
tality to  ministers  was  so  unbounded  that  his  house  was 
often  called  a  Presbyterian  hotel. 

He  was  the  leader  in*  establishing  a  Mission  Church  on 
First  Street,  east  of  the  canal,  in  1851,  and  became  so 
deeply  interested  in  the  work  that  he  withdrew  from  busi- 
ness, and  devoted  himself  wholly  to  his  Master's  cause 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.     The  Mission  prospered. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  113 

.Soon  after  its  organization  a  call  was  given  to  the  Rev. 
James  S.  Kemper  to  become  their  pastor.  Under  Mr. 
Kemper's  effective  ministry,  it  became  necessary  to  aban- 
don the  first  mission  house  and  erect  a  larger  building  in  a 
more  desirable  location.  In  reference  to  this  movement 
Mr.  Kemper  writes  as  follows : 

"  Mr.  Barnett,  admonished  that  his  end  was  drawing 
near,  became  desirous  to  accomplish  one  last  work.  It 
was  to  see  the  church  he  had  borne  and  done  so  much  for, 
furnished  with  a  commodious  house.  He  secured  a  lot. 
A  sale  of  the  Mission  Church  property  was  efiected.  He 
headed  the  subscription  list  with  $6,000;  subsequently  he 
added,  by  a  codicil  to  his  will,  the  sum  of  $2,500,  to  pro- 
vide against  a  church  debt.  It  was  not  his  privilege  to 
see  the  church  finished,  yet  he  never  repined  over  the  de- 
nial of  this  fond  desire.  He  said  'if  the  Lord  will  it  not, 
I  am  content.'  This  was  but  one,  the  last  and  perhaps  the 
greatest  of  many  objects  of  his  liberality.  He  left  no 
children,  never  having  had  any.  His  Christian  steadfast- 
ness and  cheer  never  faltered.  His  last  words  were,  'Oh, 
to  grace  how  great  a  debtor.' " 

■  The  following  extract  is  from  a  letter  written  to  Mrs. 
Barnett,  after  her  husband's  death,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ander- 
son, then  of  San  Francisco  : 

"I  shall  never  forget  the  first  time  Mr.  Barnett,  at- 
tempted to  pray  in  public.  '^^  *  *  He  was  diflident 
of  his  ability  to  lead  the  devotions  of  others,  and  had  re- 
quested, indeed  enjoined  it  upon  me,  not  to  call  on  him  in 

any   social   meeting.     After  some  demurrer  I  consented. 
15 


114  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Weeks  passed  on  and  brought  with  them  the  quickening 
and  reviving  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Many  Christians 
were  rejoicing,  and  many  hitherto  careless  persons  were 
asking  in  anguish  of  heart,  'What  must  we  do  to  be  saved? ' 
Among  the  former  was  Mr.  Barnett.  He  came  to  me  one 
evening  with  tears  rolling  down  his  cheeks  and  said:  'I 
can  stand  this  no  longer.  I  have  professed  to  love  Jesus  ; 
I  believe  I  do  love  him,  and  I  must  not  be  ashamed  to  let 
my  voice  be  heard  among  his  saints.  I  take  off  that  in- 
junction; call  on  me  when  you  please.'  He  prayed  that 
evening,  and  it  was  a  melting  time  among  us  all." 

He  died  on  the  2d  of  January,  1858,  after  a  long  period 
of  patient  suffering,  from  disease  of  the  heart  and  dropsy. 
He  was  followed  soon  after  by  his  wife,  who  was  a  devoted 
Christian,  and  an  active  co-laborer  with  her  husband,  in 
all  his  benevolent  undertakings. 

MRS.   SARAH   BOMBERGER. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Bomberger  was  born  near  Frankfort,  Pa., 
on  the  6th  of  July,  1793.  Her  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
George.  Her  father,  Judge  George,  and  her  mother,  Ann 
Britton,  were  of  Welch  descent;  their  families  emigrating 
to  this  country  and  settling  in  Pennsylvania.  When  Mrs. 
Bomberger  was  quite  young  the  family  moved  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  after  living  there  a  few  years,  preferring  a  free 
State,  came  to  Ohio,  when  Sarah  was  ten  or  twelve  years 
of  age.     In  1810  Sarah  George  was  married  to  William 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  115 

Boraberger,  a  citizen  of  Dayton,  born  in  Philadelphia  of  a 
Quaker  fomily,  in  which  faith  he  was  raised  and  lived  till 
his  death.  He  was  a  quiet,  peaceable  citizen,  upright, 
honest,  and  conscientious  in  all  things.  He  held  the  office 
of  county  treasurer  of  Montgomery  County  for  fourteen 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boinberger  had  three  children,— 
George  Wilson,  who  died  June  2l8t,  1848;  Ann,  the  only 
daughter,  became  the  wife  of  P.  P.  Lowe,  Esq.,  and  died 
March  10th,  1877:  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lowe  united  with 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church;  the  youngest  son,  William, 
now  resides  in  Colorado. 

Mrs.  Bomberger  became  a  member  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  at  an  early  date.  She  was  from  lirst  to  last 
an  active,  faithful,  cheerful  Christian,  of  singularly  clear 
judgment,  great  decision  of  character,  given  to  hospitality 
in  a  simple,  plain  manner:  taking  an  active  part  in  the 
organization  of  the  lirst  Sabbath-school  in  Dayton,  of 
which  she  was  superintendent  for  ten  years.  With  all  her 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ  in  the  church,  Sabbath- 
school,  and  the  Bible  Society,  she  never  neglected  her 
home  or  her  friends.  Bright  and  cheery  to  the  close  of  a 
useful  life,  Mrs.  B.,  though  so  deeply  interested  in  the  Sab- 
bath-school, never  felt  that  in  Christian  families  it  could 
take  the  place  of,  or  supply  the  deficiency  in,  Christian 
home  training-. 

Her  light  shone  clear  and  steadfast,  till  she  entered  into 
rest,  August  4th,  1859,  aged  66  years. 


116  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHVRCH 

DR.   JOB    HAINES. 

"Dr.  Job  Haines  was  born  on  the  28th  of  October,  1791, 
in  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  He  had,  at  his  death,  almost 
completed  his  sixty-ninth  year.  He  was  blessed  (to  quote 
the  language  of  his  own  private  memoranda),  "With  pa- 
rents who  were  professors  of  religion,  and  who  took  pains 
to  instruct  him  early  in  its  great  and  important  doctrines. 
He  was  directed  to  search  the  scriptures,  to  attend  the 
house  of  God,  to  seek  the  Lord  in  prayer,  early  and  dili- 
gently. These  things  were  taught  him  both  by  example 
and  precept."  He  was  also  furnished  with  the  means  of 
a  collegiate  education  ;  and  having  graduated,  at  Princeton, 
and  prepared  himself  for  the  medical  profession,  at  Morris- 
town  and  Philadelphia,  he  left  his  father's  house  July 
5th,  1815,  for  a  home  in  the  west,  arriving  at  Cincinnati 
August  2d.  After  a  visit  to  friends  in  Springfield  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  medicine,  at  Dayton,  on  the  29th 
of  January,  1817. 

"  How  early  his  religious  impressions  were  dated  we  have 
no  means  of  ascertaining,  but  the  memoranda  above  re- 
ferred to,  give  evidence  that '  often,  during  the  course  of 
bis  early  life,  his  attention  was  directed  by  some  remarka- 
ble providence,  some  searching  sermon  or  other  means,  to 
reflect  on  the  concerns  of  the  soul,'  For  several  years 
prior  to  liis  profession  of  Christ,  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
secret  prayer.  The  ministry  of  the  Rev.  B.  Wilbur,  in 
Dayton,  during  the  year   1817,  was  peculiarly  blessed  to 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  H^ 

him.     On  the  28th  of  November,  in  that  year,  then  26  years 
of  age,  he  was  received  into  the  fellowship  of  this  Church, 
on  examination.     Four  years  after,  he  was  chosen  a  ruling 
elder.     He  was  therefore  a  member  of  the  Church  for  forty- 
three  years,  and  a  ruling  elder  thirty-nine  years.     During 
this  long  period,  in  which  he.  was  called  to  suffer  many 
severe  personal  trials;    and  in  which  the  Church  passed 
through  all  the  ordinary,  and  some   peculiar  difficulties; 
our  brother  bore  an  unblemished  reputation  as  a  Christian, 
and  as  an  officer  of  the  Church.     His  chief  characteristic 
was  his  hearty  and  unreserved  consecration  of  himself  and 
his  all  to  the  service  of  the  Master.     Remarkable  for  his 
Christian  intelligence,  sound  judgment,  and  practical  wis- 
dom;  he  was  equally  distinguished  by  his   modesty  and 
humility.     He  was  always  a  lover  of  truth,  and  an  earnest 
inquirer  after  it,  yet  equally  a  lover  of  peace,  and  a  peace- 
maker. 

"  His  integrity  and  honesty  in  business  transactions  were 
never  questioned.  Above  most  Christians,  he  was  con- 
scientious in  the  use  of  his  property,  as  a  steward  of  God. 
He  had  'learned  the  luxury  of  doing  good.'  His  abun- 
dant liberality  to  the  poor,  in  the  practice  of  his  profession; 
as  well  as  to  all,  at  home  or  abroad,  whom  his  beneficence 
could  reach,  prevented  him  from^  accumulating  wealth, 
save  that  which  is  laid  up  in  heaven.  He  was  singularly 
faithful  in  all  religious  duties,  private,  family,  and  public. 
His  place  in  the  sanctuary,  the  prayer  meeting,  the  Bible 
class,  the  Sabbath-school,  and  the  session,  was  never  vacant 
when  his  presence  was  possible.     A  quiet  activity  charac- 


118  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

terized  his  daily  life ;   and  it  may  be  truly  said  that,  like 
the  Master, '  he  went  about  doing  good.' 

"  He  knew  or  at  least  manifested  no  extremes,  of  zeal,  and 
lukewarmness;  but  was  eminent  for  his  unvaried  constancy 
and  perseverance  in  well-doing.  Inflexible  in  principle, 
uncompromising  in  hostility  to  sin,  and  tirm  to  his  purpose, 
his  gentle  and  benevolent  spirit  disarmed  opposition.  His 
life  was  holy,  and  his  end  was  peace." 

The  above  is  an  extract  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas' 
funeral  oration  —  and  it  is  only  necessary  to  add  that  the 
public  respect  and  esteem  entertained  for  Dr.  Haines, 
through  a  long  life,  was  exhibited,  in  a  marked  degree, 
on  the  day  of  his  funeral.  As  the  solemn  procession 
moved  along  Main  Street  towards  Woodland  Cemetery, 
the  side-walks  were  thronged  with  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, and  all  the  doors,  windows,  and  porticos,  along  the 
line,  were  filled  with  people.  Every  voice  was  hushed,  and 
every  countenance  wore  a  sorrowful  expression.  The  mul- 
titude seemed  spell-bound,  as  if  overpowered  by  one  com- 
mon sad  emotion.  Many  heads  were  uncovered  in  silent 
homage.  Many  eyes  were  moist  with  tears,  and  many, 
whose  hearts  had  often  been  gladdened  by  the  good  man's 
benefactions,  were  bowed  forward  as  if  burdened  by  a  sense 
of  painful  bereavement. 

It  is  the  custom  of  all  nations,  when  a  great  man  dies, 
to  invest  his  funeral  obsequies  with  the  ceremonial  pomp 
and  circumstance,  befitting  his  dignity,  but  we  doubt 
whether  any  of  the  world's  great  men  —  heroes,  statesmen, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  119 

princes  or  poets,  ever  received  fron*  the  crowd,  an  ovation' 
of  deeper  or  holier  reverence,  than  was  paid  to  the  lifeless 
form  of  Job  Haines  in  its  transit  to  the  grave. 

Dr.  Haines  died  July  23d,  1860. 

He  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  but  the  only  living 
representative  of  the  family  is  a  granddaughter,  Miss  Mary 
Barnes,  of  Stanford,  Kentucky. 

MRS.  SIJSAN   C.   STODDARD. 

Among  the  many  noble  women  of  the  past,  whom  Day- 
ton holds  in  aitectionute  remembrance,  there  are  few  whose 
names  shine  with  a  purer  lustre  than  that  of  Mrs.  Stoddard. 
For  a  long  period  of  her  life  she  was  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  Christian  work  of  the  city,  as  well  as  with 
the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  Church. 

From  infancy  she  had  been  trained  carefully  in  the 
communion  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Her  father,  Mr. 
John  H.  Williams,  was  a  member  and  office  bearer  of  the 
First  Church,  and  her  brother,  Herbert  S.  Williams,  and 
sisters,  Mrs.  Samuel  King,  JVLi'S.  Judge  Sherman,  and  the 
two  Mrs.  Wallace,  all  now  living,  were  devoted  members 
of  the  same  communion. 

She  was  married  to  the  late  Henry  Stoddard,  Esq.,  a 
leading  member  of  the  Dayton  bar,  and  a  member  of  the 
First  Church,  in  which  he  long  held  the  office  of  ruling 
elder. 

Mrs.  Stoddard  possessed  rare  natural  endowments ;  she 
was  a  woman  of  extraordinary  personal  beauty,  of  gentle 


120  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

and  amiable  disposition,  and  of  brilliant  intellect;  but  the 
crowning  ornament  of  her  character  was  charity,  and  her 
husband's  affluent  circumstances  afforded  means  for  her 
liberal  exercise  of  this  grace. 

She  was  the  mother  of  four  children, —  Henry,  John, 
Fowler,  and  Lida, —  now, Mrs.  S.  B.  Smith. 

She  gave  much  personal  care  to  the  education  of  her 
children,  and  had  the  joy  of  seeing  all  of  them  connected 
with  the  Church  of  their  fathers  before  her  death,  except 
one,  and  her  dying  prayer  in  his  behalf  did  not  remain 
unanswered. 

During  the  last  cholera  epidemic  in  Dayton,  she  was 
distinguished  for  her  unremitting  devotion  to  the  victims 
of  that  disease.  She  not  only  provided  clothing,  nurses, 
and  delicacies  for  the  sick  poor,  but  she  often  nursed  them 
with  her  own  hands  Tvhen  other  help  could  not  be  obtained, 
perforaiing  at  times  the  must  repulsive  duties,  with  a  will- 
ingness that  only  strong  personal  ties  or  true  Christian 
charity  can  inspire. 

Her  house  and  heart  were  open  alike  to  rich  and  poor, 
and  the  needy  never  went  empty  away.  She  was  admon- 
ished frequently  to  exercise  some  discrimination  in  the 
bestowment  of  her  charities,  but  her  excuse  was,  that  when 
the  hand  of  want  was  stretched  out  to  her,  she  lost  all 
judiciary  power. 

It  may  be  recorded  that  the  children  of  Mrs.  Stoddard 
have  given  ample  proof  that  their  mother's  liberal  example 
has  not  been  lost  upon  them. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  121 

She  died  on  the  4th  of  April,  1861,  being  then  in  her 
fifty-third  year.  Her  last  illness  was  long  and  painful,  but 
she  bore  it  with  cheerful  submission  to  her  Father's  will. 


MISS    SARAH    FENNER. 

Miss  Sarah  Fenner  was  born  in  Canterbury,  England,  in 
1790.  Her  neither  died  in  her  childhood,  and  her  father 
with  his  two  daughters,  came  to  this  country  when  Sarah 
was  about  twelve  years  of  age  and  settled  near  Pough- 
keepsie,  New  York.  Mr.  Fenner,  their  father,  died  soon 
after  coming  to  this  country,  leaving  his  daughters,  who 
were  yet  in  their  childhood,  though  provided  with  ample 
means  for  their  support,  among  comparative  strangers. 
They  were  kindly  received  into  a  family  of  friends,  by  the 
name  of  Draper,  who  were  without  children,  and  who 
tenderly  cared  for  them,  and  whose  memory  during  life 
was  cherished  by  Miss  Fenner  and  her  sister  with  great 
warmth  of  affection. 

Previous  to  her  coming  to  Dayton  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  E. 
Thresher,  in  1846,  Miss  Fenner  had  made  two  journeys  to 
her  native  country,  spending  several  years  each  time  with 
an  aged  aunt.  Miss  Fenner  continued  to  reside  in  the 
family  of  Mr.  E.  Thresher  until  her  sisters  death,  in 
1860.  Afterward  she  resided  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Charles 
Crawford  with  her  niece,  Mrs.  Sarah  Crawford,  by  whom 
she  was  patiently  and  tenderly  cared  for,  during  the  long 
and  painful  sickness  attending  her  last  years. 
;6 


122  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

On  coming  to  Dayton  Miss  Fenner  united  with  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  directly  became  known  as  an 
active  Christian  worker.  In  the  Relief  Union  and  the 
Orphan  Asylnmn  she  was  particularly  interested.  For 
many  years  she  spent  most  of  her  time  in  visiting  the 
poor,  and  in  collecting  funds  for  their  relief,  while  she 
contributed  very  liberally  of  her  own  means.  Few  persons 
have  been  more  favorably  known  by  the  poor  and  friend- 
less than  Sarah  Fenner. 

She  died  in  this  city,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1874,  and 
the  memory  of  her  gentle  nature,  pure  life,  large  cliarities, 
«  and  personal  consecration  to  philanthropic  work,  will  long 
be  cherished  by  the  citizens  of  Dayton. 


THOMAS    ALEXANDER   PHILLIPS. 

Mr.  T.  A.  Phillips,  though  not  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  First  Church,  had  been  prominently  connected  with 
the  congregation  for  a  great  many  years  before  his  death. 
He  was  descended  from  Scotch  ancestors,  who,  on  coming 
to  this  country,  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of  Maryland. 
Mr.  Phillips  was  born  in  Cecil  County,  Maryland,  Septem- 
ber 29th,  1810.  In  1844,  he  came  to  Dayton  to  take  charge 
of  the  Copper  cotton  foctory,  which  had  been  purchased, 
a  short  time  before,  by  a  Cincinnati  company.  Under  his 
excellent  management,  the  business  became  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  successful  industries  of  Dayton, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  123 

About  thirty-three  ^-ears  ago,  Mr.  Phillips  married  Miss 
Margaret  Jane,  daughter  of  the  late  Augustus  George,  Esq., 
of  this  city,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons.  The  youngest 
died  in  infancy,  the  others,  George  L.  and  Charles  A.  were 
associated  in  manufacture  with  their  father,  before  his 
death,  and  appear  to  have  inherited  a  large  share  of  his 
energy  and  business  qualities. 

As  a  citizen,  Mr.  Phillips  was  held  in  high  estimation 
among  tliose  who  knew  him.  By  nature  he  was  modest 
and  retiring,  generous  in  his  impulses,  and  atfectionate  and 
lovable  in  all  his  social  relations.  He  was  a  model  hus- 
band, an  indulgent  father,  and  his  home  was  one  of  the 
sunniest  sanctuaries  of  domestic  happiness  in  our  city. 

Though  trained  by  Presbyterian  parents,  he  did  not  make 
an  early  profession  of  religion.  At  one  time,  the  claims  of 
Christianity  were  much  weakened  in  his  regard,  by  the 
multiplicity  and  discordance  of  the  sects.  Being  practical 
in  his  modes  of  thought,  he  had  no  taste  for  theological 
abstractions.  He  adopted  for  his  creed  the  simple  precept, 
"Do  unto  others  as  you  would  have  others  do   to  you." 

His  wife  was  an  earnest  Christian,  a  judicious  counselor, 
and  congenial  companion.  When  his  child,  a  darling  boy, 
died,  in  1860,  his  creed  gave  him  no  comfort.  He  was 
overwhelmed  with  grief,  and  this  bitter  experience  created 
within  iiim  a  desire  to  know  the  secret  of  his  wife's  trust, 
and  calm  resignation.  He  was  eventually  brought  to  sec 
that  his  creed  lacked  the  vital  element  of  true  religion  — 
love  to  God  and  trust  in  him;  and  in  18(57  he  made  a  public 
profession  of  his  faith,  and  became  a  member  of  the  First 


124  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Church  —  his  son  George  uniting  with  the  Church  at  the 
same  time. 

During  the  residue  of  his  life,  he  was  an  humble,  faithful, 
and  cheerful  Christian.  He  was  appointed  to  the  office 
of  trustee,  and  took  a  deep  interest  in  building  the  new 
church,  to  which  he  contributed  one-tenth  of  the  entire 
congregational  subscription.  He  gave  liberally  to  all 
benevolent  and  laudable  enterprises;  and  realized  the  fact 
that  such  "giving  does  not  impoverish." 

Towards  his  numerous  employes,  he  was  humane  and 
generous.  It  was  his  practice  to  give  every  workman  a 
yearly  increasing  bonus,  in  addition  to  the  regular  wages, 
.80  long  as  they  continued  in  his  service. 

The  author  is  familiar  with  many  instances  of  his  private 
beneficence.  On  one  occasion  he  presented  to  Mr.  Phillips 
a  bill  for  professional  services.  Mr.  Phillips  instantly  wrote 
a  check  for  double  the  amount,  saying  as  he  passed  it, 
"  You  doctors  are  often  called  to  attend  patients  who  are 
unable  to  pay.  It  would  pain  me  to  hear  that  a  sick  per- 
son was  in  want  of  a  physician,  on  a  stormy  night,  and 
couldn't  get  one,  and  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  contribute  some- 
thing for  such  services.  The  whole  burden  ought  not  to 
fall  on  the  doctors." 

He  sulfered  several  years  from  disease  of  the  heart,  which 
terminated  fatally  on  the  27th  of  November,  1877. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  125 

HENRY    L.   BROWIsr. 

H.  L.  Brown  was  ideatijfied  with  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  Dayton,  from  infancy  to  the  close  of  life,  which 
took  place  on  the  25th  of  November,  1878.  He  was  the 
son  of  Henry  Brown  and  Catharine  Patterson, —  both  early 
settlers  of  Dayton, —  and  devoted  members  of  the  First 
Church.  They  had  another  son,  the  late  Judge  R.  P. 
Brown,  and  one  (still  surviving)  daughter,  Mrs.  Charles 
Anderson. 

Mr.  H.  L.  Brown  was  married  February  7th,  1837,  to 
Miss  Sarah  Belle  Browning,  of  Indianapolis,  They  had 
nine  children;  of  whom  all  but  one  are  living,  and  most 
of  them  continue  to  be  residents  of  Dayton.  Mr,  Brown 
and  his  wife  united  with  the  First  Church,  August  27th, 
1842.  She  died  in  1858.  He  cherished  the  most  tender 
regard  for  her  memory  during  the  residue  of  his  life,  and 
instilled  into  the  hearts  of  his  young  children  such  venera- 
tion and  aftiection  for  their  mother,  that  her  will  (as  inter- 
preted by  the  father)  was  decisive  on  all  points  of  duty  or 
difference  of  opinion. 

The  following  extract  is  from  the  Dayton  Journal,  of 
November  26th,  1878: 

"  Mr.  Brown  was  active  and  energetic.  What  his  hands 
found  to  do  was  done  with  all  his  power  in  the  community 
in  which  he  lived  and  in  the  Church  of  which  he  was  a 
member.  He  was  a  member  of  the  city  council,  and  long 
a  member  of  the  school  board,  holding  the  office  of  presi- 


126  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CffURCB 

dent  for  years.  He  was  president  of  the  Dayton  &  Western 
Railroad  Company  while  the  work  of  construction  was 
in  progress,  and  for  some  years  president  of  the  Pioneer 
Society  of  Montgomery  County.  His  zeal  and  activity  in 
discharging  the  duties  of  all  these  positions  were  constant 
and  continuous. 

"The  most  notable  characteristic  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Brown 
was  his  devotion  to  the  cause  of  religion.  His  faith  was 
strong  and  the  sense  of  his  Christian  obligation  was  most 
acute.  He  was  always  ready  with  word  and  work  to  spread 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth  among  his  fellow  men,  and 
never  faltered  in  the  discharge  of  Christian  duty.  He 
was  president  of  the  Montgomery  County  Bible  Society, 
taking  special  interest  in  the  fact  that  his  mother  had  long 
occupied  the  same  position.  He  was  elected  an  elder  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  November  13th,  1850.  His 
activity  in  Christian  work  was  specially  manifested  in  the 
great  interest  with  which  he  regarded  the  Sabbath-school. 
For  many  years  he  was  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath- 
school,  sometimes  retiring  for  a  time  and  urging  the  accept- 
ance of  the  office  upon  some  one  else,  and  then  called  back 
again  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  school,  until  about 
five  years  since,  when  he  made  his  retirement  from  the 
office  final. 

"  While  occupying  this  position  it  was  his  custom  to 
entertain  the  school  at  his  house,  inviting  them  by  divi- 
sions, at  intervals  of  a  week  or  two.  By  this  method  he 
became  personally  acquainted  with  and  could  call  by  name 
every  member  of  the  school. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  127 

*'  As  a  Christian,  he  was  alike  conspicuous  for  his  loyalty 
to  the  Church  of  his  choice,  and  for  his  hroad  charity 
and  fraternal  sympathy  with  all  who  bore  the  name  of 
Christian.  A  firm  friend  and  supporter  of  the  pastor;  a 
wise  and  candid  counselor  in  all  Church  affairs;  an  ardent 
lover  of  the  social  prayer  meeting,  his  death  leaves  a 
vacancy  that  will  long  remain  unfilled. 

"  He  was  always  ready  to  wait  on  the  sick,  and  one  of 
his  methods  of  Christian  work  was  to  volunteer  to  sit  up 
with  any  who  needed  such  attention,  and  in  the  quiet 
hours  of  the  night,  as  opportunity  permitted,  to  minister 
to  the  spiritual  as  well  as  the  bodily  wants  of  the  patient. 

"Of  fine  social  qualities,  generous  and  hospitable,  his 
house  was  a  most  delightful  visiting  place,  where  a  guest 
could  realize  the  largest  meaning  of  the  word  welcome. 

"All  who  knew  Henry  L.  Brown,  or  were  associated 
with  him  in  Christian  work,  will  recall  with  pleasure  his 
earnest  and  ardent  zeal,  so  trustful  and  so  unfaltering.  Of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  he  was  a  constant 
friend  and  valuable  assistant.  He  was  free  from  anything 
which  approached  religious  bigotry,  and  every  Christian, 
of  whatever  denomination,  received  from  hini  the  right- 
hand  of  fellowship.  For  his  own  Church,  of  course,  his 
attachment  was  unvarying. 

During  the  last  year  of  his  life,  he  commenced  a  history 
of  the  First  Church  but  died  before  its  completion. 

"  There  probably  never  vA'as  a  citizen  of  Dayton  who 
gave  as  much  of  his  wordly  possessions  to. promote  the 


128  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

cause  of  Christianity,  and  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  poor 
people,  as  Henry  L.  Brown.  He,  in  fact,  gave  away,  practi- 
cally, the  whole  of  a  liberal  fortune  for  these  purposes." 

CHARLES    H.    SPIKING. 

Charles  H.  Spining,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this 
valley,  was  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  for 
fifty-eight  years. 

He  was  born  in  Elizabeth  town,  New  Jersey,  on  the  7th 
of  February,  1793.  His  father.  Judge  Pierson  Spining, 
emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1796.  He  brought  his  famil}»  across 
the  mountains  in  his  own  wagon,  and  after  stopping  for  a 
few  years  near  Cincinnati,  he  removed  to  the  farm,  three 
miles  east  of  Dayton,  which  has  been  well  known  for  the 
past  seventy  years,  as  the  home  of  the  Spining  family. 

In  early  life,  Charles  H.  Spining  was  engaged  in  a 
variety  of  pursuits.  After  a  few  years  work  on  his  father's 
farm,  he  engaged  with  Mr.  H.  G.  Phillips  as  a  clerk.  He 
then  entered  upon  the  milling  and  wool-carding  business, 
but  abandoned  this  for  merchandize,  which  he  pursued, 
with  some  interruptions,  until  1834,  when  he  bought  a 
part  of  the  home  property,  built  a  house  upon  it,  and  re- 
solved to  devote  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  farming. 

In  1825,  he  married  Miss  Jane  Perlee,  of  Springfield, 
Ohio,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children.  Some  years  ago 
he  transferred  the  care  of  his  farm  to  his  son  George,  and 
moved  to  Dayton,  residing  with  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Frank 
Mulford,  until  his  death,  which  took  place  May  31st,  1879, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  129 

He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  health,  and  reached  his 
eighty-sixth  birthday,  with  but  slight  experience  of  the  ills 
that  flesh  is  heir  to. 

A  friend,  referring  to  his  last  illness,  has  made  the  follow- 
ing record : 

"Mr.  Spining  retained  his  mental  faculties  in  full  vigor 
till  he  sank  into  a  state  of  insensibility,  about  two  hours 
before  he  expired.  During  the  five  days  of  his  illnfess,  he 
was  cheerful  and  happy.  He  knew  that  he  had  entered 
the  dark  valley,  and  that  a  very  brief  sojourn  in  this 
world  yet  remained  for  him.  His  life  had  been  that  of  an 
earnest  and  devoted  Christian,  and  its  close  was  marked 
by  triumphant  manifestations  of  the  presence  of  the  Savior, 
in  whom  he  had  trusted. 

"On  Thursday,  while  his  family  were  gathered  around 
his  bed  —  as  it  seemed  to  him  —  to  witness  his  departure, 
he  said,  'If  this  be  death,  then  death  is  glorious,'  He  was 
asked  if  he  remembered  his  old  and  favorite  hymn,  'On 
Jordan's  stormy  banks  I  stand?'  'Oh,  yes;'  was  the  reply, 
'  but  there  is  no  storm  on  the  banks  now.' 

"  On  Friday,  he  raised  his  arm  and  pointing  upwards, 
said,  with  enthusiasm,  '  I  see  the  glories  of  the  heavenly 
world,  and  the  angels  waiting  to  take  me  home.'  Then 
his  arm  dropped  on  his  breast  while  he  remained  in  silent 
contemplation  of  the  glorious  vision.  His  peace  seemed 
to 'flow  as  a  river,'  and  over  his  sanctified  spirit,  in  its 
transit  from  earth  to  heaven,  death  had  no  terror  and  the 

grave  no  victory." 

17 


130  FIUST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

In  a  memorandum  book,  kept  by  Mr.  Spining,  appears 
the  following : 

"February    5th,   1879. —  My  Heavenly  Father   has,  in 

mercy,  added  another  year  to  my  life  in  this  lower  world. 

I  have  to  lament,  that  I  have  done  so  little  in  return  for 

his  kindness  to  me.     Our  years  are  swiftly  passing  away ; 

eighty-six  years  old  to-day ! 

"C.  H.  Spining." 

"But  the  long  active  life  closed  at  last.  It  was  a  well- 
spent  life.  It  was  marked  by  a  devotion  to  the  right  as 
taught  by  the  Savior  of  the  world.  Mr.  Spining  had  been 
a  professor  of  religion  for  nearly  three  score  yqars  ;  and  his 
counsels  and  consistent  life  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 

"Of  the  family  history  it  is  scarcel}'  necessary  to  speak. 
The  faithful  wife,  who,  for  more  than  fifty-four  years,  had 
shared  his  joys  and  sorrows,  survives  him.  Of  the  sur- 
viving daughters,  one  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  D.  W.  Osborn, 
another  of  Mr.  W.  B.  King,  and  a  third  of  Mr.  Frank 
Mulford  —  all  well  known  and  highly-respected  citizens." 

MISS  MARIA  BOYD. 

During  the  past  fifty  years,  no  individual  in  Dayton  en- 
joyed a  more  distinct  personal  notoriety  than  Maria  Boyd. 
The  only  one  who  rivaled  her  in  this  respect  was  John  W. 
VanCleve.  Both  were  readily  recognized  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  and  no  stranger  visiting  our  city  could  look 
for  a  moment  on  either  without  being  moved  to  inquire, 
"  Who  is  that  ?  " 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  131 

No  history  of  the  uotable  Christiaus  of  Dayton  will  be 
complete,  that  omits  a  sketch  of  Miss  Boyd,  and  though 
the  writer  possesses  little  knowledge  of  her  ancestry,  birth- 
place, age  or  education,  yet  has  he  sufficient  evidence  to 
prove  her  title  clear  to  a  place  on  the  honor  roll  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church. 

It  matters  very  little  "what  immediate  spot"  may  have 
been  the  birthplace  of  Miss  Boyd.  We  feel  very  sure  it 
was  of  the  least  concern  to  her  where  she  was  born,  or 
where  she  was  to  be  buried.  In  her  estimation  life  was  too 
short  to  be  wasted  on  suck  unprofitable  inquiries.  Wken 
she  was  born,  is  another  question  that  would  not  repay  in- 
vestigation. The  date  may  have  been  written  in  the  blank 
leaves  of  her  bible,  but,  not  being  a  part  of  the  inspired 
volume,  it  could  have  little  interest  for  her,  and  shall  re- 
ceive little  attention  from  us. 

Miss  Boyd  was  seldom  seen  in  public  without  her  basket 
— that  old  familiar  basket  which  was  so  often  the  signal  of 
relief  to  needy  expectants.  Although  she  carried  a  basket, 
and  made  frequent  journeys,  she  never  rode,  and  I  might 
almost  say  she  never  walked.  Her  gait  was  sal  generis — a 
sort  of  compromise  between  a  walk  and  a  racking-pace. 
She  was  always  in  a  hurry.  Though  small  in  stature, 
and  frail  in  structure,  she  had  wonderful  capability  of 
endurance,  and  seemed  to  possess  a  secret  charm  against 
casualties. 

Her  basket,  gait,  and  bonnet  constituted  her  distinguish- 
ing characteristics.  The  latter  was  unique,  and  demands  a 
passing  notice.     In  early  life  Miss  Boyd  was  taught  the 


132  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

art  of  millinery,  and  being  of  an  ingenious  turn,  she  in- 
vented a  new  style  of  bonnet,  in  which  the  advantages  of 
utility  were  happily  blended  with  modest  comeliness.  But 
in  spite  of  its  intrinsic  value,  the  new  bonnet  failed  to  win 
the  favor  of  the  fashionable  world.  She  however  adhered 
to  it  as  long  as  she  lived.  All  other  bonnets  changed  with 
the  changing  seasons,  but  the  style  of  Miss  Boyd's  bonnet 
knew  no  change,  nor  shadow  of  turning ;  and,  for  this 
reason,  it  became  an  object  of  peculiar  interest  and  noto- 
riety to  the  people  of  Dayton. 

In  speaking  of  this  bonnet  to  a  friend,  our  distinguished 
fellow-citizen,  Miss  Eliza  Holt,  once  said,  "I  must  confess 
I  do  not  covet  the  bonnet  Miss  Boyd  wears  on  earth,  but  I 
would  be  very  glad  to  wear  her  crown  in  heaven." 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  more  of  Miss  Boyd's 
early  life,  and  the  circumstances  under  which  was  planted 
the  good  seed  that  in  later  years  developed  a  character  of 
the  highest  moral  and  religious  excellence — but  we  do  not 
even  know  who  her  parents  were.  We  do  not  know  that 
she  ever  had  parents ;  but  we  do  know  that  she  had  a  great 
many  poor  brethren  and  sisters,  a  great  many  poor  and 
helpless  children,  and  a  great  ma.ny  sick  friends, — and  she 
never  neglected  any  of  them.  Her  house  could  not  hold 
them  all,  but  her  heart  did.  Day  by  day,  rain  or  shine, 
through  mud  and  snow,  for  years  upon  years,  this  angel 
of  mercy  carried  comfort  to  the  dying  and  destitute,  and 
never  grew  weary  in  her  labor  of  love. 

She  carried  food  to  the  hungry,  drink  to  the  thirsty, 
clothing  to  the  naked,  medicine  to  the  sick,  and  glad  tidings 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  133 

to  the  dying.  "  Was  she  rich  enough  to  supply  all  this?  " 
No,  but  her  Father  was.  He  was  the  largest  landed  pro- 
prietor in  America.  He  owned  the  cattle  on  a  thousand 
hills.  The  gold  of  California  and  the  silver  of  Nevada 
were  His.  His  stores  of  corn  and  wine,  wool  and  cotton, 
were  inexhaustible.  The  milk  and  honey,  the  fruits,  flow- 
ers and  fountains  of  the  whole  earth,  belonged  to  Him. 
This  rich 'Father  of  Miss  Boyd  had  some  faithful  stewards 
in  Dayton,  and  from  them  she  obtained  all  needed  supplies. 
Now  and  then  she  discovered  an  unfaithful  steward,  who 
hoarded,  for  sordid  purposes,  what  God  meant  for  man- 
kind. When  these  refused  to  share  their  God-ffiven  wealth 
with  the  destitute,  she  prayed  for  them,  and  passed  them 
b3^  There  were  enough  who  knew  she  was  the  King's 
daughter,  to  gladly  honor  her  requisitions. 

A  Dayton  clerk  heard  his  employer  refuse  to  give  a  lady 
a  contribution  for  some  benevolent  purpose.  It  was  just 
before  dinner.  After  dinner.  Miss  Boyd  entered  on  a 
similar  errand,  and  her  request  was  promptly  complied 
with.  The  clerk,  observing  the  fact,  afterward  referred  to 
it,  as  an  evidence  of  the  charitable  influence  of  a  irood 
meal  —  but  the  emploj'er  said  he  was  mistaken  —  adding, 
"I  would  almost  as  soon  have  a  millstoue  about  my  neck, 
and  be  cast  into  the  Miami,  as  have  Maria  Boyd  go  to 
heaven  with  the  report  that  I  had  denied  her  help  for 
the  poor." 

Such,  in  brief,  was  the  character  of  this  noble  woman,  as 
that  character  has  impressed  itself  on  the  writer. 


134  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

The  memory  of  her  good  deeds  will  long  be  cherished 
by  the  people  of  Dayton.  Who  that  knew  the  large  com- 
pass of  her  charity  can  fail  to  note  how  appropriate  to  her 
experience  are  the  words  of  Job  : 

"When  the  eye  saw  me,  it  gave  witness  to  me: 
^Vhen  the  ear  heard  me,  then  it  blessed  me,    • 
Because  I  delivered  the  poor  that  cried. 
And  the  fatherless  and  him  that  had  none  to  help  him. 
The  blessing  of  him  that  was  ready  to  perish  came  upon  me : 
And  I  caused  the  widow's  heart  to  sing  for  joy. 
I  was  eyes  to  the  blind,  and  feet  was  I  to  the  lame : 
I  was  a  mother  to  the  poor,  and  the  cases  that  I  knew  not  I  searched  out. 
My  glory  was  fresh  in  me,  and  my  haskd  was  replenished  in  my  hand. 
And  they  waited  for  me  as  the  rain,  and  they  opened  their  mouths 
wide  as  for  the  latter  rain." 

Miss  Boyd  died  on  the  2d  of  April,  1879.  It  is  believed 
that  her  age  was  not  less  than  four  score  years. 


POSTSCRIPT. 

After  the  1818  Roll  of  S.  S.  Scholars  was  printed,  the  author's  attention 
was  called  to  the  fact  that  all  male  scholars,  whose  surnames  began  with 
the  letters  N,  0  and  P,  were  omitted.  On  careful  investigation  it  has 
been  discovered  that  the  leaf  containing  the  missing  names  was  removed 
from  Mrs.  Bomberger's  Alphabetical  Register.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive 
of  but  one  motive  for  suppressing  the  publication  of  these  names — and  it 
would  be  interesting  to  know  v/hether  this  sacrilege  should  be  credited 
to  a  widower  or  bachelor  ! 


ROLL  OF  OFFICERS.  135 

FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  DAYTON,  OHIO, 

APRIL    1,    1880. 


REV.  LEIGH  RICHMOND  SMITH,  Pastor. 


Tn  L  r>  K  R  s  . 

Francis  Mflford,  Clerk.  Augustus  F.  Payne, 

John  F.  Edgar,  Charles  U.  Raymond, 

Wm.  a.  Barnett,  Edwin  A.  Parrott, 

John  H.  Thomas. 


DEACONS. 

Oliver  P.  Boyer,  David  A.  Bradford, 

Joseph  D.  Dubois,  David  W.  Stewart, 

Houston  I.owe. 


T  n  xj  s  'r  WjTc,^  . 

John  W.  Stoddard,  Samuel  B.  Smith, 

Wm.  Craighead,  Geo.  L.  Phillips, 

Robert  I.  Cummin. 


Hugh  Conover,   Trrnmrer. 


Sabbath  Services,  10 J  a.  m.  ;  7,  11  or  8  p.  m. 
Sabbath-School,  2  p.  m.     Ix  Dayton  View,  :];V  p.  m. 

CONGREGATIO.VAL    PhAVER    MeETIXG,    WEDNESDAY,    7,    7;^    OR   S    P.    M. 

Young  Pkdpi.e's  Prayer  Meeting,  Monday,  1,  7h  or  8  p.  m. 


136  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


ROLL  OF    MEMBERS 


Anderson,  Mr.  Henry Soldiers'  Home. 

Anderson,  Mrs.  Anna  Eliza 26  Williams  Street. 

Arnold,  Mrs.  Eitta Dayton  View. 

Arnold,  Mr.  James  0 Dayton  View. 

Arnold,  Mrs.  Thirza Dayton  View. 

Arnold,  Miss  Carrie  E Dayton  View. 

Ayers,  Mrs.  Susannah 131  North  Perry  Street. 

Ayers,  Mr.  William  S 131  North  Perry  Street. 

Ayers,  Miss  Susie  W 131  North  Perry  Street. 

Bain,  Mr.  Wm Springfield,  Ohio. 

Baldwin,  Miss  Eliza Missionary  to  the  Indians. 

Barnett,  Mr.  WilHam  A S.  W.  Cor.  First  and  Jefferson  Streets. 

Barnett,  Mrs.  Laura  Easton S.  W.  Cor.  First  and  Jefferson  Streets. 

Barnett,  Miss  Mary  Easton S.  W.  Cor.  First  and  Jefferson  Streets. 

Barnett,  Miss  Elizabeth  J S.  W.  Cor.  First  and  Jefferson  Streets. 

Barnett,  Mr.  William  W S.  W.  Cor.  First  and  Jefferson  Streets. 

Bell,  Mrs.  Margaret 117  Buckeye  Street. 

Belville,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  M 24  Wilkinson  Street. 

Belville,  Mr.  Jacob  J 191  East  Third  Street. 

Boyer,  Mr.  O.  P... 211  Third  Street. 

Bradford,  Mrs.  Eliza Beavertown  Pike. 

Bradford,  Mr.  Johnson  P Beavertown  Pike. 

Bradford,  Mi'S.  Martha  Jane Beavertown  Pike. 

Bradford,  Mr.  David  A 403  West  Second  Street. 

Bradford,  Mr.  Richard 403  We^t  Second  Street. 

Bradford,  Mrs.  Sarah, 403  West  Second  Street. 

Bradford,  Mr.  George Beavertown  Pike. 

Bradford,  Mrs.  Amanda Beavertown  Pike. 

Bradford,  Mr.  Allen Beavertown  Pike. 

Bradford,  Miss  Jennie Beavertown  Pike. 

Black,  Mr.  George  A 323  West  First  Street. 

Black,  Mrs.  Mary  C 323  West  First  Street. 

Blair,  Mrs.  Priscilla S.  E.  Cor.  Second  and  Wilkinson  Streets. 

Blair,  Miss  Grace S.  E.  Cor.  Second  and  Wilkinson  Streets. 

Brelsford,  Mrs 33  Green  Street, 


ROLL  OF  MEMBERS. 


137 


^74  West  Second  Street. 
Brenner,  Mrs.  Joseplnne  Augusta o74      est^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^^^ 

Brown,  Miss  Hamet ".nS  South  Wilkinson  Street. 

Brown,  Mr.  Ashley.   ^^^  ^^^^^^  Wilkinson  Street. 

Brown,  Mrs.  Lnnly  C s"w"cor.  Second  and  Perry  Streets. 

Brown,  Mrs.  Sarah  G ^^  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^^^  g^^^^^ 

Brown,  Miss  Mary  Jane ;,-^-c;;-;  Fourth  and  Perry  Streets. 

Brown,  Mrs.  EmniaC. East  Patterson  Street. 

Butterfield,  Mrs.  Fanme East  Patterson  Street. 

Bulterfiold,  Miss  Fanme ^^^^  ^^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^^^ 

Butterfield,  Miss  L,me^ s  W  ■co;;"'rhird  and  I-udlow  Streets. 

Carpenter,  Mr.  Jan.  s  W S.  W.  C^^  ^^_^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^ 

Carpenter,  Mr...  K  1..^.^. •      ;  ^     ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^^^.  ^^^^^^^ 

Carpenter,  M>ss  Hattie  T...     .-  ^^^  ^^^^^^^^^  ^^^.^^^^ 

Cnrpenter,  Mr.  James  A\..  Jr ^.^^^^^  ^^^^^^ 

Chalmers,  Mrs.  Jeannette -^  ^^.^^^^  ^^^.^^^ 

Clark,  Mrs.  Anna  C Z.. Tippecanoe,  O. 

Cochran,  Mrs.  Mary..    .....Children's  Home. 

Comly,  Miss  Rebecca  R ., GO  West  First  Street. 

Conover,  Miss  Mary ^^^.^,^^  g^^^^^ 

Craio'lioad,  Mrs.  Jeannette  A "^ 

Crr,h.a<l  M,s.  Rebecca s.  E.  Cor.  Second  and  Wlkmsontoee,,. 

a"i:hoad  Mrs.  Margaret  W 536-  W  Second  toet. 

C-ane,  M..  Sarah  S N.  W.  Cor.  rirst  and  W..^^^  S^reeta. 

Cridland,  Mr..  Maggie '.'I.Beckel  House. 

Cummin,  Mr.  Robert  Irvm ••••    •  ^  c+.,^«+= 

,      .       ,.      T      •  S  W  Cor.  Ludlow  and  First  Streets. 

Davos,  Mrs.  Lou.e... S.  W.  ^^^^^  ^,^^^  ^^^^^^ 

Dickson,  M,ss  Harr.et  J    ^^.^^^  ^^^^^ 

Dickson,  M,ss  Mana  Jane ^.^^^  ^^^.^^^ 

Dickson,  M,s,  Lucret  a  G ^^,^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^ 

Dickson,  M.SS  Augusta  C ...362  West  First  Street. 

Dickson,  Miss  Ellen  P ^ 

Dryden,  Miss  Ara.inta  I S.  W.  Cor.  Linden  Avenue  a„.  St. 

Dubois,  Mr.  Joseph  D • 

'    ,      ^^         w  ..3  St.  Marys  street. 

Dubo  s,  Mrs.  Meroa  W "•        ,.         o^      * 

.  '    ,.     ^      .    T  3  St.  Marys  street. 

Dubois,  Miss  Came  L \ 

t^  ,      A1U    .-IT    wn  37  West  Second  Street. 

Ealy,  Albert  E.,  M.  D '"'  ,  o^      * 

^  /   ^/r      T7«^    r  37  West  Second  street. 

Ealv,  Mrs.  Ettie  C ,  tt^„.^ 

_    '      ,,.      ,,  Soldiers' Home. 

Eaton,  Miss  Mary _  ^.^ 

Easton,  Miss  Ruth  L S.  W.  Cor.  First  and  Jefferson  Streets. 

16  Roe  Street. 

Eaton,  Mrs.  Ann 

^,      \,      ^      V  ^  T  Wayne  Street. 

Edgar,  Mrs.  Caroline  L ■' 

18 


138  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Edgar,  Mr.  John  F 138  West  Second  Street. 

Edgar,  Mrs.  Effie  A 138  AVest  Second  Street. 

Edgar,  Miss  Jennie  A 138  West  Second  Street. 

Edgar,  Miss  Isabel  R 13S  West  Second  Street. 

Edgar,  Miss  Elizabeth  B 138  West  Second  Street. 

Eells,  Mrs.  Susan  M California. 

Finley,  Mr.  WiUiam 123  Maple  Street. 

Finley,  Mrs.  Lucinda 123  Maple  Street. 

Forrester,  Miss  Julia  Ann... Franklin  Street. 

Geiger,  Miss  Emma S.  W.  Cor.  Fifth  and  Jefferson  Streets. 

Green,  Mrs.  Lucy  R S.  E.  Cor.  Second  and  Ludlow  Streets. 

Green,  Mr.  John  W S.  E.  Cor.  Second  and  Ludlow  Streets. 

Grundy,  Mrs.  Ellen  S Dallas,  Texas. 

Haas,  Mr.  Isaac 124  East  First  Street. 

Haas,  Mrs.  Mary 124  East  First  Street. 

Haas,  Miss  Anna  Catharine 124  East  First  Street. 

Haas,  Mr.  Walter 124  East  First  Street. 

Haas,  Mr.  Charles 13  Franklin  Avenue. 

Haas,  Mrs.  Kate 13  Franklin  Avenue. 

Hall,  Mrs.  Eliza  PhiUips 227  North  Wilkinson  Street. 

Hall,  Mrs.  Mary DeSoto,  Missouri. 

Harbine,  Mrs.  H.  F Linden  Ayenue. 

Harris,  Mrs.  Delia Wayne  Street. 

Harris,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann 433  West  Fourth  Street. 

Harris,  Miss  Drusilla 4-33  West  Fourth  Street. 

Harries,  Mrs.  Mary  £ Hii.rries  Station. 

Harries,  Miss  Elizabeth  H Harries  Station. 

Harries,  Miss  Louie , Harries  Station. 

Hatfield,  Mr.  John  M 511  East  Second  Street. 

Hatfield,  Mrs.  Joanna  F 511  East  Second  Street. 

Herrman,  Mrs.  Maraaret Wayne  Street. 

Hetzel,  Miss  Mary , Covington  Pike. 

Hill,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  G S.  W.  Cor.  Second  Perry  Street. 

Hjelm,  Miss  Sofie  Matilda 

Houghtelin,  Mrs.  Jane 23  South  Wilkinson  Street. 

Honghtelin,  Miss  Sarah  M 23  South  Wilkinson  Street. 

Holtzer,  Mrs.  Eliza ..Ill  North  Main  Street. 

Holtzer,  Miss  Lizzie Ill  North  Main  Street. 

Hosier,  Mrs.  F.  M.... , 32  May  Street. 

Howell,  Mrs.  Mary  D. 374  West  Second  Street. 

Humphreys,  Mrs.  Emma Lehman  Street. 


ROLL  01"  MEMBEttS.  139 

Huston,  Mrs.  Elizabeth Springfield  Pike. 

Huston,  Mrs.  Fannie Springfield  Pike. 

Inman,  Mr.  R.  I Chaumont,  N.  Y. 

Jacobson,  Mr.  August Omaha,  Keb. 

Johnson,  Miss  Elizabeth 138  West  Third  Street. 

Johnson,  Miss  Isabella 138  West  Third  Street. 

Kemper,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Thomas Cincinnati,  Ohio 

Kerr,  Miss  Ruth Wolfcreek  Pike. 

Kirkor,  Mrs.  Christin.i 1102  East  Fifth  Street. 

Kyle,  Mrs.  Elizabeth Tippecanoe. 

Law,  Miss  Maggie  F 140  West  Fourth  Street. 

Law,  MissSallie  M 140  West  Fourth  Street. 

Law,  Mrs.  Jennie  B 140  West  Fourth  Street. 

Lee,  Mrs.  Alida  B 1802  East  Third  Street. 

Lee,  Miss  Clara  N 1802  East  Third  Street. 

Lee,  Miss  Minnie  H 1802  East  Third  Street. 

Leechman,  Mr.  Alex Soldiers'  Home. 

Leas,  Mrs.  S 417  West  Fourth  Street. 

Lindsley,  Miss  Abigail 29  East  First  Street. 

Lowe,  Mr.  P.  P 113  South  Main  Street. 

Lowe,  Miss  Sarah  P. 113  South  Main  Street. 

Lowe,  Col.  John  G 125  South  Main  Street. 

Lowe,  Mrs.  Marianuii  L 125  South  Main  Street. 

Lowe,  Mr.  Hou.ston 29  East  First  Street. 

Lydenberg,  Mrs.  Marianna 417  South  Perry  Street. 

Marble,  Mrs.  Jessie IG  Roe  Street. 

Marshall,  Mr.  R.  D 353  West  First  Street. 

Marshall,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  R 353  West  First  Street. 

Mayer,  Miss  Emma 555  West  Third  Street. 

Mayer,  Miss  Louie 555  West  Third  Street. 

Mayer,  Miss  Elizabeth 555  AVest  Third  Street. 

McCook,  Gen.  Alexander  McDowell United  States  Army. 

McCook,  Mrs.  Kate  PhiUips Washington,  D.  C. 

McCleary,  Miss  Margaret  Isabel Pleasant  Hill,  Ohio. 

McDermont,  Dr.  Clark  E 212  West  Third  Street. 

McDermont,  Mrs.  Mary  Eliza 212  West  Third  Street. 

Means,  Miss  Eliza 605  Jefferson  Street. 

Metzler,  Mr.  George 6  Wyandot  Street. 

Metzler,  Mrs.  Mary '. G  Wyandui  Street. 

Miller,  Mrs.  Caroline North  Perry  Street. 

Miller,  Miss  Caroline N.  W.  Cor.  Second  and  AVilkinson  Streets. 


140  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

Miller,  Mrs.  Margaret  Ann 417  South  Perry  Street. 

Miller,  Mrs.  Sarah 376  West  Second  Street. 

Moodie,  Mrs.  Eleanor 18  North  Wilkinson  Street. 

Moodie,  Miss  Emma  G 18  North  Wilkinson  Street. 

Moore,  Mr.  Leonard 310  West  First  Street,  West  of  Perry. 

Moore,  Mrs.  Mary  G 310  West  First  Street,  West  of  Perry. 

Morrison,  Mrs.  Ann ••• 267  Lafayette  Street. 

Moxham,  Mrs.  Mary Springfield,  Ohio. 

Mulford,  Mr.  Francis S.  W.  Cor.  Second  and  Pei-ry  Streets. 

Mulford,  Mrs.  Jane S.  W.  Cor.  Second  and  Perry  Streets. 

Myers,  Mr.  Charles 

Myers,  Miss  Louie Xenia,  Ohio. 

Newcom,  Mrs.  Catharine  V Wilkinson  Street,  bet.  Second  and  Third. 

Padley,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann 610  East  Second  Street. 

Purrott,  Col.  Edwin  A Oakwood. 

Parrott,  Mrs.  Mary  May Oakwood. 

Paulsen,  Mr.  Christian. 19  East  Second  Street. 

Payne,  Mr.  Augustus  F 529  West  Fourth  Street. 

Payne,  Mrs.  Mary  Isabella  .529  West  Fourth  Street. 

Payne,  Miss  Mary  K 529  West  Fourth  Street. 

Perrin,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 259  Lafayette  Street. 

Perrine,  Mr.  James  F 1802  East  Third  Street. 

Perrine,  Mrs.  Julia 1802  Ea.st  Third  Street. 

Phelps,  Mr.  William  A ...1821  East  Third  Street. 

Phelps,  Mrs.  Annie  C •• 1821  East  Third  Street. 

Phillips,  Mrs.  Margaret  Jane 24  West  Fourth  Street. 

Phillips,  Mr.  George  L 29  West  Fourth  Street. 

Phillips,  Mrs.  Adele  B 29  West  Fourth  Street. 

Phillips,  Mx'S.  Lucy S.  W.  Cor.  First  and  Ludlow  Streets. 

Phillips,  Mr.  Horace. 368  West  Second  Street. 

Philhps,  Mrs.  Nannie 368  West  Second  Street. 

Phillips,  Miss  Sophie S.  W.  Cor.  First  and  Ludlow  Streets. 

Porter,  Mrs.  Letitia  P.  Fifth  Street. 

Pratt,  Mr.  William  P 114  East  Fifth  Street. 

Pratt,  Mrs.  Sarah  A 114  East  Fifth  Street. 

Pretzman,  Mrs.  Susan West  Water  Street. 

Ralston,  Mr.  John 323  West  Fourth  Street. 

Ralston,  Mrs.  Catharine 323  West  Fourth  Street. 

Ralston,  Miss  Maria  Bickham 323  West  Fourth  Street. 

Ralston,  Miss  Kate 323  West  Fourth  Street. 

Raymond,  Mr.  Charles  TJ 374  West  Second  Street. 


nOLL  OF  MEMBERS.  141 

Raymond,  Mrs.  Jennie  H 374  West  Second  Street. 

Rench,  Mrs.  Mary 221  West  First  Street. 

Rench,  Miss  Joan 221  West  First  Street. 

Reynolds,  Mrs.  Jennie  C Hufl'uian  Hill. 

Richey,  Mrs.  Ruth South  Perry  Street. 

Robertson,  Mr.  Peter S.  W.  Cor.  Wilkinson  and  First  Streets. 

Robertson,  Mrs.  Emma  L S.  W.  Cor.  Wilkinson  and  First  Streets. 

Rogers,  Mr.  George  W  119  South  Main  Street. 

Rogers,  Mr.s.  Elizabeth 119  South  Main  Street. 

Rogers,  Miss  Anna  C 119  South  Main  Street. 

Rogers,  Miss  Grace 119  South  Main  Street. 

Rogers,  Miss  Helen  Fowler. 119  South  Main  Street. 

Shoe,  Mrs.  Martha  Jane Pleasant  Hill,  Ohio. 

Sims,  Miss  Sidney  Anna Columbus,  Ohio. 

Smith,  Mrs.  Eliza  Stoddard 233  North  St.  Clair  Street. 

Spencer,  Mr.  William 345  West  Water  Street. 

Spencer,  Mrs.  Mary .345  West  Water  Street. 

Spilling,  Mrs.  .Jane S.  W.  Cor.  Second  and  Perry  Streets. 

Spining,  Miss  Elizabeth  Y 35  West  Water  Street. 

Stauffer,  Mr.  C.  B Lehman  Street. 

Stauffer,  Mrs.  Carrie  M Lehman  Street. 

Stewart,  Mr.  David  W 35  West  Water  Street. 

Stewart,  Mrs.  Sarah  S 35  West  Water  Street. 

Stewart,  Miss  Emily  McAlpin 35  West  Water  Street. 

Stewart,  Miss  Margaret 35  West  Water  Street. 

Stewart,  Mrs.  Mary  McG Santa  Barbara,  California. 

Stewart,  Miss  Katharine  W Santa  Barbara,  California. 

Stockstill,  Mrs.  Josephine S.  W.  Cor.  Second  and  St.  Marys  Streets. 

Stoddard,  Mr.  Asa  P St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

Stoddard,  Mr.  John  W Dayton  View. 

Stoddard,  Mrs.  Susan  K Dayton  View. 

Stout,  Mrs.  Virginia  T 370  West  Second  Street. 

Strong,  Mrs.  Harriet  A ....3G1  West  First  Street. 

Strong,  Miss  Hannah 3G1  West  First  Street. 

Strong,  Miss  Martha 361  West  First  Street. 

Strong,  Mr.  Nathaniel    3G1  West  First  Street. 

Strickle,  Miss  Rebecca West  Water  Street. 

Stroup,  Mr.  John Xenia  Pike. 

Stroup,  Mrs.  Rachel  J ...., Xenia  Pike. 

Stroup,  Mrs.  Mary  0 Soldiers'  Home. 

Sunderland,  Mrs.  Mary 322  West  Fourth  Street. 


142  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CBURCti 

Tate,  Miss  Anna  Martha No.  1  Bridge  Street. 

Tenney,  Mrs.  Louisa California. 

Thomas,  Mrs.  Lydia  S. Wooster,  Ohio. 

Thomas,  Mr.  John  H 410  West  Second  Street. 

Thomas,  Mrs.  Linda  Rogers 410  West  Second  Street. 

Thompson,  Mrs.  William  C 1608  East  Fifth  Street. 

Underwood,  Mr.  John  1 562  West  Second  Street. 

Underwood,  Mrs.  Mary  L 562  West  Second  Street. 

Van  Ausdal,  Mrs.  Mary  C Dayton  View. 

Wade,  Mrs.  Mary.. 35  West  Water  Street. 

Wallace,  Mrs.  Belle  K Miami  City. 

Weaver,  Dr.  J.  M Soldiers'  Home. 

Weaver,  Mrs.  S.  J Soldiers'  Home. 

Wead,  Mr.  John  Stewart Lebanon  Pike. 

Wead,  Mrs.  S.arah  R Lebanon  Pike. 

Wead,  Miss  Mary  Lizzie Lebanon  Pike. 

Whitmore,  Mrs.  Sarah  Belle 83  Jones  Street. 

Weigel,  Mrs.  Matilda 1102  East  Fifth  Street. 

Wight,  Mr.  ColUns 379  West  Second  Street. 

Wight,  Mrs.  Martha  Jane 379  West  Second  Street. 

Wight,  Miss  Sarah 379  West  Second  Street. 

Williams,  Mr.  John 553  West  Fourth  Street. 

Williams,  Mrs.  Mina 553  West  Fourth  Street. 

Williams,  Miss  Bertha. 553  West  Fourth  Street. 

Williams,  Miss  Theresa 553  West  Fourth  Street. 

Wilson,  Miss  Mary  Ann 86  South  Ludlow  Street. 

Wilson,  Miss  Sarah  M...  86  South  Ludlow  Street. 

Wolf,  Mr.  John Covington  Pike. 

Wolf,  Mrs.  Zreldiu Covington  Pike. 

Wolf,  Miss  Elizabeth Covington  Pike. 

Wolf,  Mrs.  Susan  H 3  Bridge  Street. 

Wonderly,  Mrs.  Sarah  Jane Lebanon  Pike. 

Wright,  Mrs.  Eliza  A Springboro,  Ohio. 

Wyatt,  Mrs.  Vlary  C 19  West  Water  Street. 

Young,  Mr.  Benjamin  G.  G Huffman  Avenue. 

Young,  Mrs.  Maria  Isabella HufFmazi  Avenue. 


INDEX 


Early  Settlement  of  Dayton 5 

Organization  of  First  Church 7 

Log  Cabin  Meeting  House 7 

Subscription  for  New  Brick  Church 8 

Rev.  James  AVelch's  Pastorate 9 

Act  of  Incorporation 11 

Burying  Grounrl  Donated 12 

Qualified  Voters ,   13 

Purchase  of  Church  Lot  on  Ludlow  Street 14 

First  Briclv  Churcli 15 

The  First  Church  Bell 16 

The  First  Sabbath-School 17 

Rev.  Backus  Wilbur's  Pastorate 17 

Rev.  Ahab  Jenk's  Pastorate 18 

Rev.  William  Graham's  Pastorate 18 

Rev.  Franklin  Putnan,  Stated  Supply 18 

Revival  of  1828 19 

Rev.  James  C.  Barnes'  Pastorate 20 

Revival  of  184.3 20 

Church  Rebuilt 21 

Resignation  of  Mr.  Barnes 22 

Character  of  Mr.  Barnes 23 

Rev.  George  Bai-nes 24 

Schism  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 24 

New  and  Old  School  Division 2o 

Cause  of  the  Division 25 

Pan-Presbyterian  INIovement 26 

New  School  Colony 27 

Rev.  Dr.  Anderson's  Pastorate  28 

Rev.  Dr.  Anderson's  Resignation. 30 

Rev.  Dr.  Anderson's  Visit  to  Kentucky 31 

Rev.  F.  T.  Brown,  Supply '  .'. 29 

The  Central  Church  '. 41 

Rev.  Dr.  D.  Gurley's  Pastorate 42 

Mission  Church 42 

Dr.  Gurley's  Letter  of  Resignation  and  Reply  of  the  Congregation 44 

Rev.  James  A.  Brookes'  Pastorate ." 48 

Miami  City  Colony 49 

Resignation  of  Mr.  Brookes 50 

Rev.  Dr.  Thomas'  Pastorate 51 

Slavery  and  Rebellion— their  Influence  on  the  Churches 51  53 

New  Church  Built 54 

Building  Committee 54 

Superintendent 55 

Memorial  Tablet 56 

Final  Building  Report  of  Trustees 57 

Rev.  John  McVey's  Pastorate 59 

Rev.  George  A.  Funkhouser,  Supply... 61 


144  ■  INDEX. 


Rev.  Benjamin  B.  Warfleld,  Supply fil 

Rev.  Leigh  Richmond  Smith's  Pastorate 62 

Church  Music 63 

Disciphne 69 

Church  Fire 74 

First  Dayton  Sabbath  School 75 

Mr.  Boniberger's  Register  of  Pupils,  1818 77 

Church  Mmembership 82 

Ruhng  Elders 83 

Deacons 84 

Trustees  So 

Treasurers 86 

Collectors • 87 

Col.  John  G.  Lowe 8.s 

Church  Revenue 8S 

Contributions 89 

Bequest  of  — 

Miss  Mary  Strain 90 

Dickinson  P.  Thruston 91 

Abraham  Overlease 91 

Survev  of  the  Church. 92 

The  Old  Burying  Ground 95 

Ch)irch  Organization 97 

Ladies  Church  Society 98 

Biographical  Sketches — 

.lohn  Miller 99 

Obadiah  B.  Conover 100 

Mrs.  Surah  Conover 101 

Mrs.  Eliza  S.  Phillips 102 

Robert  Edgar 105 

Judge  Steele ' 106 

William  King 109 

Joseph  Barnett 112 

Mrs.  Sarah  Bomberger 114 

Dr.  Job  Haines 116 

Mrs.  Susan  C.  Stoddard 119 

Miss  Sarah  Fenner 121 

T.  A.  Phillips 122 

H.  L.  Brown  125 

Charles  H.  Spining ...128 

Miss  Maria  Boyd..^ 130 

List  of  Officers  of  First  Church 135 

List  of  Church  Members  in  1880 136 


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